"Do you like apples?" Will says after tapping on the window.
"Yeah." Replied the Michael Bolton clone.
"Well I got her number! How do like you them apples!"
Clever click bait, right? That was a classic line from Matt Damon's Oscar award winning film, Good Will Hunting, and an excellent connection to today's theme, my three favorite A's, Apples, Almonds, and Avocados.
I keep a steady stable of food items in my rotation in order to keep shopping and meal prep stream-lined, and to minimize any surprises to my gut for training, but almonds, apples, and avocados are my absolute must haves at all times.
I have been nuts for nuts for many, many years. Almonds are my all-time favorite. I eat them mostly raw, but do allow a few slightly salted ones every day just to keep things interesting, and my sodium levels tip-top. I was never a big fan of apples until I discovered Pink Lady’s in my early twenties. They are my favorite variety, although I do reach for Gala, Honey Crisp, and Granny Smith, too, but I will pass on a Red Delicious every time. Meanwhile, I only recently developed an appreciation for avocados which is a real shame because we had an avocado tree in the backyard of our house in Claremont growing up, but I never partook in its abundance.
Naturally, I would love it if the plant-based lifestyle was embraced world-wide. It’s a fun way to live. And if you want to learn more about the glorious power of plants, I suggest reading these books.
Regardless of one's eating proclivities, I believe both herbivores and omnivores can benefit from eating more of my three favorite A’s, and following are a few nutritional highlights and useful ways that Apples, Almonds, and Avocados can be integrated into daily life.
Apples = The Matt Damon Connection
FUN FACT: Apples are a great long-drive/anti-sleepy snack because they release sugar slowly throughout the body, plus they’re loud and entertaining to eat.
Almonds
“People who eat nuts live longer than those who don’t.” Darin Olien, Superlife
Agreed, Darin.:) Also, almonds are a wonderful pre-dinner snack, and add a delicious savory crunch when mixed in with roasted vegetables, and/or ANY dish.
Avocados
I am still not a huge fan of the consistency of avocados on their own, so adding texture is key. I like to prepare a pre-dinner avocado salad with mini-tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, celery, pepitas, (or pistachios), topped with Tamari sauce, and Everything But The Bagel seasoning from Trader Joe’s.
Happy Apple, Almond, and Avocado Hunting on this amazing Thursday in April.
The video choice today is another clip from Good Will Hunting, the stunning park bench monologue from Robin Williams' character to Matt Damon's, Will.