Sometimes, you just need a little heat to complement your sweet, or a little zest to impress. In case you are not familiar with seasoning your fruit, let this recipe be your entry point. Let us first explain that there is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying the refreshing flavors of fresh produce. Eating a juicy peach on a hot summer day is magical, as is enjoying a crisp apple in the middle of fall. Every now and again, though, you can elevate your fruit with just a touch of citrus and spice.

A lot of cultures salt their melons and add a squeeze of lemon or lime to bring out the flavor. This is a popular serving method for cantaloupe in Italy. For this chili lime watermelon snack, though, we get inspiration from Mexico, where putting chili powder, salt, lime, and other seasonings on fruit is very popular. It’s an ingenious hack that takes fruit, or vegetables, to a new level. Talk about adding a little pep to your step! Something about the spicy sweet flavor combination with a kiss of zesty lime makes you wanna get moving!

The great thing about watermelon is that it pairs beautifully with myriad flavors. You can add it to salsas, salads, and desserts. You can even grill it for a savory summer appetizer. This chili lime watermelon is just another way to be creative with one of summer’s most popular fruits. Plus, this recipe is much healthier than adding an overly salty, processed syrup to your fruit. Always go the healthier route if possible!

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It’s hard to claim the very best guacamole, but here we are doing just that. It is very simple to make and uses high quality ingredients. All you need is onion, cilantro, avocado, tomato, jalapeño pepper, lime juice, garlic, and sea salt. The last, and potentially most important, thing you need is a molcajete or mortar and pestle. Ideally, use a molcajete because it is the best kitchen tool for amazing guacamole.

A molcajete is similar to a mortar and pestle, but it’s just better. It has been used by people in the landmass now known as Mexico for thousands of years. Traditionally, a molcajete was made from volcanic rock or stone, and it consists of a bowl that stands on three legs. It comes with a tapered instrument that you hold and grind or mash whatever is in the bowl. The naturally textured surface of the bowl can help you turn whole ingredients into a smooth mixture. As you grind them into a paste, they release flavorful compounds and aromas along the way.

The key to making the best guacamole is that you have to grind the garlic and jalapeño into a paste. You can then add the chopped avocado and continue to smash it into a chunky dip. Once you add the diced onion, tomatoes, and cilantro, you can simply fold them into the guacamole with a large spoon. You don’t want to mash those ingredients in with the avocados. The reason for that is because the diced texture of those ingredients beautifully complements the smooth avocado mixture. Let’s see if you think this guacamole is all that by leaving a comment below.

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Cinco de Mayo has come to represent a day of overindulgent drinking and sharing great food with friends. Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic and safer at home laws prevent people from going out together for Cinco de Mayo this year. That’s no reason to give up on the festivities, though! It is very easy to get into the spirit and celebrate from your home.

This is one of the greatest times in history to have stay at home orders in place. Modern technology has made it possible to communicate with people, work from home, and virtually be in the same place together. That means that you can use Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, or WhatsApp to video chat with friends and celebrate.

What Is Cinco de Mayo, Really?

On May 5^th, 1862, the Mexican army defeated the French army in the town of Puebla. The French Emperor, Napoleon III, aimed to establish a French satellite state in Mexico. Needless to say, the Mexican President, Benito Juárez, resisted this plan and Mexican forces blocked the French advance. Sadly, the French returned with more forces and captured Puebla. Mexicans retook the city in April 1867. The original victory celebrated Mexican freedom and culture, but it is not Mexico’s Independence Day, which annually occurs on September 16^th. That holiday is the anniversary of Grito de Dolores, a speech and battle cry that was uttered by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Roman Catholic priest, in 1810. This speech inspired a movement that freed Mexico from Spanish rule.

How To Celebrate Cinco de Mayo At Home

Make Some Tasty Recipes

You don’t have to sacrifice the urge to consume delicious Mexican food just because you can’t leave the house. Find your favorite recipes and create a fragrant, vibrantly colored Cinco de Mayo spread at home. Try to make a new salsa recipe, pickle some red onions, or use your Instant Pot to make tortilla soup. The possibilities are endless!

Support Your Favorite Local Mexican Restaurant From Afar

During these strange times, it is crucial to support local businesses if you have the means to do so. If you don’t enjoy cooking or don’t want to cook, order takeout from your favorite local Mexican restaurant. Supporting the local restaurant industry helps servers, bartenders, and cooks keep their jobs.

Have A Virtual Fiesta

Fire up Zoom because it’s time for a virtual fiesta! Bring the good times into your home by having a Zoom call with family members and friends. Some websites offer free Cinco de Mayo Zoom backgrounds, which help make your party festive and colorful. You can host a virtual happy hour or have a cook off, which requires every person to use the same ingredient. Alternatively, you can all make the same recipes to enjoy the same bites together, but from a distance.

Get Festive…It’s Okay

It’s safe to say that most people have been cooped up inside for quite a while. You can still be festive, even if you don’t go out to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Bring the festive flair inside your home, dressing colorfully and putting up DIY decorations like banners, streamers, or anything else you have in mind. If you don’t pride yourself in your decorating abilities, use a virtual background via Zoom to get into the spirit of Cinco de Mayo festivities.

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Have you seen that green vegetable in the grocery store that looks like the fusion of a cucumber and potato? That, ladies and gentlemen, is the chayote squash, a produce item that is loaded with potassium, magnesium, zinc, protein, manganese, and vitamins B6, B9, and K. It has been praised for the folate content, which has been known to promote healthy cell division and reduce the risk of congenital deformities. Chayote could be the dietary addition you need to achieve a healthier body.

What Is Chayote?

The pear-shaped chayote squash is often overlooked by many grocery shoppers, but this could be because people are unaware of its many healthy benefits. Belonging to the gourd family, the chayote squash originated in central Mexico and other Latin American countries. It grows on a perennial vine, which can climb up fences, trees, or shrubs. While it isn’t the most popular vegetable, it has a few surprising benefits that you should know about.

The Benefits Of Chayote Squash

May Slow The Signs Of Aging

One of the primary causes of premature signs of aging is an overabundance of free radicals, which can wreak havoc on your cells. Chayote is extremely rich in antioxidants, which work to fight free radical damage, ultimately slowing the aging process by protecting cells. One of the primary antioxidants in chayote is vitamin C, which is necessary for collagen production. A recent test tube study found that chayote extract had a positive effect on human skin cells that were damaged by UV radiation.

May Help Control Blood Sugar

The high fiber content and low net carb value makes chayote an excellent vegetable for managing blood sugar levels. The combination of low carbs and soluble fiber can help fight the body’s insulin resistance because soluble fiber works to slow the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates. Insulin resistance occurs when cells become less sensitive to insulin, which regulates blood sugar. This can lead to high blood sugar levels, which can result in diabetes if dietary change doesn’t happen. Preliminary research suggests that chayote may play a role in increasing insulin sensitivity to help control blood sugar.

May Improve Liver Health

There is a growing percentage of people with fatty liver disease, a condition that results in excess fatty tissue in and around the liver. Too much fat can cause improper liver function. According to animal and test tube studies, chayote squash may prevent fat from accumulating in the liver. One animal study, in which rats were fed a high-fat diet, found that the addition of chayote to their diet reduced fatty acid deposits in their livers and cholesterol in their bodies.

May Support Healthy Pregnancy

Folate, or vitamin B9, should be consumed by everyone, but pregnant women or women who want to become pregnant should focus on including it in their diet. Since folate is necessary for fetal brain and spinal cord development, it has been researched to play a role in the prevention of birth defects. One chayote contains 40% of the recommended daily intake of folate, making it a great food to support a healthy pregnancy.

May Promote Heart Health

According to test tube studies, chayote contains antioxidant compounds that work to relax blood vessels, which helps to increase blood flow and reduce blood pressure. Chayote contains an antioxidant known as myricetin, which has demonstrated cholesterol-lowering properties in preliminary animal studies. Additionally, chayote squash is a great source of fiber, and a high-fiber diet has been associated with a reduced risk of heart disease.

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Typically eaten as a side dish or dip (but we all know it could be enjoyed as an entrée), guacamole has been a staple part of Mexican cuisine since the time of the Aztecs. Today, guacamole has become one of the most popular add-ons, dips, and sauces in the Americas and Canada, where it is informally known as guac.

Guacamole Fact: While the humble avocado is native to Mexico and Central America, it is grown and consumed in all areas of the world. The people of Sri Lanka even enjoy their own rendition of guacamole by making a creamy avocado sauce.

Benefits Of Avocados

Great For Vision

Rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, two phytochemicals that are primarily concentrated in eye tissues, avocados help to promote eye health. These phytochemicals have been known to minimize the damage from ultraviolet light. Additionally, monounsaturated fats in avocados work to aid the absorption of fat-soluble antioxidants like beta-carotene, a necessary nutrient to decrease the risk of macular degeneration.

Baby Food

Avocados contain folate, which is an important nutrient for developing fetuses. Pregnant women are encouraged to consume folate-rich foods in order to lower the risk of possible neutral tube defects or miscarriage. A recent study found that there was a 30% increase in birth defects of baby mice that were conceived using the sperm of folate deficient male mice, compared to the mice conceived with sperm that had high folate levels.

Nutrient Dense

Avocados are like nutrient bombs, being great sources of monounsaturated fats, magnesium, potassium, beta-carotene, lutein, folate, niacin, riboflavin, and vitamins C, E, K, and B6. The healthy fats in avocados help to keep you satiated, which can prevent overeating. These same healthy fats also slow the breakdown of carbohydrates, working to maintain constant blood sugar levels.

How To Celebrate Guacamole Day

There’s really only one way to celebrate…with a giant bowl of guacamole of course! Make a large batch and eat it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks in between if you like. Is that too much guacamole? Wait…is too much guacamole even a thing? However you decide to celebrate National Guacamole Day, we hope you make some of the following recipes.

Easy Guacamole

Guacamole is one of the easiest dips to make, and it contains a bunch of essential nutrients that you need in your body. Try this recipe!

Click here to make the recipe.

Spicy & Sweet Mango Guacamole

Looking for a dip that will help boost your energy levels, nourish your brain cells, and regulate blood sugar? This is that dip. Try it out!

Click here to make the recipe.

The OG Guac Recipe

This is a great guacamole recipe. It is so simple to make and helps to fill you up. Avocados also contain beneficial heart healthy fats!

Click here to make the recipe.

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Researchers at the University of Valle de Atemajac near Guadalajara, Mexico, have figured out how to make biodegradable plastics from the juice of the edible nopal cactus, commonly known as the prickly pear cactus. Tests have shown that this bright green liquid undergoes a magical transformation, when mixed with other natural materials. In short, it becomes a bio-plastic.

About 19 billion pounds of plastic end up in the ocean each year. On average, humans consume about 50,000 pieces of microplastic each year because plastics break down in landfills and make their way into the food system. While developments like this biodegradable cactus-based plastic make positive strides toward a healthier nontoxic future, there aren’t enough biodegradable options to balance the plastic that is produced worldwide.

Plastic Fact: Roughly 1.15-2.41 million tons of plastic enter the ocean from rivers each year. Divers found a KFC bag from the 1970s off the coast of Queensland, Australia during an ocean cleanup about a month ago.

This new plastic starts to break down after one month in the soil or home composter, and within days of it being in the water. Do you understand what that means??? That means that if cactus-based plastic makes its way into the ocean or rivers, it will safely dissolve. Should this development replace actual plastics, we won’t have to look at videos of straws in turtle noses online anymore. Yay for eco-friendly developments! Unlike plastics made from fossil fuels, the cactus-based plastic is carbon neutral. It is made from the cactus juice sugars, which have a viscous consistency, making it easier to produce solid material. After fiber is removed from the juice, it is mixed with glycerol, proteins, natural waxes, and colorants. It is dried on a hot plat to yield think plastic sheets.

Plastic Fact: In the beginning months of 2019, a dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, which is the deepest point of the ocean, discovered a single plastic bag.

Corn, which is currently used to make compostable forks or cups, has an environmental footprint because of the fertilizers and other resources that are used during the growing process. Cactus, on the other hand, is a survivor of a plant that doesn’t require specific growing conditions, growing in areas that you wouldn’t think of for farming.

The only downside to this new cactus-plastic is that it isn’t as long lasting as plastic made from fossil fuels. It will be single-use only because of the current durability. The plus side is that it is more biodegradable than the other plastic alternatives on the market. The researchers aren’t just stopping at plastic utensils, though. The creation of cactus-plastic has opened the door to start creating shopping bags, jewelry, toys, and cosmetic containers. Tests to determine how much weight the plastic can hold are currently being conducted. Finally, the researchers have teamed up with several companies that are interested in making this new bio-plastic a large scale operation. We want to leave you with this: a lot of damage has been done to the environment, but it is never too late to start making positive changes.

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According to statistics for the Super Bowl in 2018, Americans prepared about 100 million pounds of guacamole. January 2019 statistics found that grocery stores across America received around 217 million pounds of avocados. Due to their many health benefits, the appetite for avocados has grown exponentially in recent years. With the increased consumption comes an increased production, but what is happening with all the avocado pits? That is a question BIOFASE addressed.

BIOFASE is a company that is changing the game of bioplastic, which is forecasted to be a multi-billion dollar industry by 2021. The owners of the company noticed an incredible amount of avocado pits at landfill sites, given that Mexico produces about 50% of the world’s supply of avocados. Rather than letting the avocado pits go to waste, BIOFASE has been using tons of avocado pits to produce biodegradable straws and cutlery. This is an exciting step away from the fossil-fuel-based polymers that the average plastics are made from.

Now Science has estimated that the avocado-based bioplastics can entirely decompose in 240 days upon exposure to the elements or burial in the ground. When it comes to plastic bottles, it can take upwards of 450 years for them to decompose. Additionally, plastic bags can take 10-1,000 years to break down.

While there has been mild success in Mexico, chain restaurants like Chili’s Bar & Grill and P.F. Chang’s China Bistro are BIOFASE’s primary customers. This is positive news, but BIOFASE, Scott Mungia, has realized that the average consumer is reluctant to pay more for biodegradable products that are beneficial for the environment.

People have to be willing to spend a little more to help secure the healthy future of our environment. A cleaner environment is only attainable if all of us make smaller changes now. Let’s not wait to save the environment when it is past the point of saving.

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Nachos are a classic stadium favorite and one of the most classic dishes for any sports party. They are easy to make and can be made several different ways. A lot of people like to add their own flair to nachos and get creative with the toppings. We also like doing that, which is why we’ve gathered some of our favorite nacho recipes for you to make later today.

The Story Of Nachos

It is believed that nachos originated in Piedra Negras, a town just south of the Rio Grande in Mexico. The story goes that Anaya, a man who worked at the Victory Club in the city, had a busy day when the wives of American soldiers, who had been shopping in town, came in looking for food. He was the only cook there and food was limited, but he used what he had: tortillas and cheese. He cut the tortillas in triangles and melted the cheese by heating it with the tortillas on the stove. Thus, nachos were born.

Nachos ascended to fame in the 1970s when Frank Liberto began selling them at the Arlington Stadium in Texas. Nachos are ever-popular and can be done many different ways. Below are some of our favorite nacho recipes that we encourage you to try. If you do, let us know how you liked them in the comments below.

Spicy Nacho Cheese Sauce

We bet that you never thought nacho cheese sauce could be raw and vegan. Well, it isn’t exactly for nachos and it isn’t what you think of as cheese. This will open your mind to what you can make on a raw foods diet!

Click here to make the recipe.

Grilled Zucchini Nachos

Grilled zucchini nachos use zucchini instead of the chips, but you still get to dress them with some of your favorite toppings. Don’t forget the avocado!

Click here to make the recipe.

Raw Apple Dessert Nachos

While this isn’t your traditional nacho recipe, it is absolutely delicious and a fun treat for yourself while you are cleansing.

Click here to make the recipe.

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It’s no secret that Americans love tacos. They love tacos so much so that they ate more than 4.5 billion tacos last year. That’s about 490,000 miles of tacos or 775 million pounds of tacos, which equates to the weight of two Empire State Buildings. Whether it’s National Taco Day, Taco Tuesday, or any day of the week for that matter, Americans never seem to get enough of this social food.

Despite what you may think, the history of the taco is somewhat unknown. Some historians think that the word “taco” originated in the silver mines in Mexico in the 18^th century. “Taco” referred to little explosives that workers used. These explosives were essentially gunpowder wrapped in pieces of paper, almost like a taquito, which acted like makeshift dynamite.

Others claim that the taco predates the 18^th century and goes back to 16^th century before the Spanish arrived in Mexico. Anthropologists say that some evidence supports the fact that inhabitants near the lake region in the Valley of Mexico consumed fish tacos. Other areas of Mexico were said to have other fillings like small insects or locusts.

We don’t want this to be a history lesson, but we wanted to give you some cool information surrounding a meal we have come to know and love. There are so many ways to make a delicious taco, so use the following recipes as healthy inspiration. Get your salsa, guac, and toppings out today and celebrate all that is taco!

Mushroom Fajitas With A Kick

The flavors of the fajitas come from the bold marinade. You can leave the vegetables in the marinade for a longer time, if you like, to really absorb the flavors. If you have signature salsa that you make, go ahead and use it as a topping!

Click here to make the recipe.

Veggie Tacos With Green Onion Ties

You can’t really go wrong with the ingredients in this recipe. The steamed broccoli with the quinoa and black beans give these tacos a lot of great textures!

Click here to make the recipe.

Raw Mango, Strawberry, & Avocado Tacos

Believe it or not, adding fresh fruit to your tacos complements the flavors of the tomatoes and avocado. It’s almost like assembling a vibrant, fruity salsa in one raw taco. Enjoy the flavors!

Click here to make the recipe.

Make Your Own Vegan Taco Spread

For this recipe, we are leaving the meat, tortillas, and cheese alone and swapping them for much healthier options. Spices and fresh ingredients are your friends in this recipe to achieve those bold, signature flavors you know and love.

Click here to make the recipe.

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If you’ve been to any grocery store or Mexican restaurant lately, you may have noticed the increased price of avocados, or a complete lack thereof. Don’t be upset, but you might have to abstain from eating guacamole for a while; or you can just pay the increased price for the fruit.

Avocados have been in short supply because of the farmer’s strike in Mexico. Farmers are reportedly not happy with the prices that they receive for a carton of avocados. Cartons usually cost about $40, but now cost over $100. As a result, shipments coming into the United States have decreased by about 60%. To give you an idea of how big of a decrease that is, 13 million pounds were imported over the past week as opposed to the average 40 million pounds that are imported every week.

Avocados have become increasingly popular due to health trends, the popularity of Mexican food, and the fact that more people are realizing how awesome they are. What does this mean for all those people who love the green gold? It means that they will have to either stop eating avocados for several months, or they will have to pay the new hiked-up prices.

Luckily, the strike was recently settled and normal prices (not $3 per avocado) should return around the time of the Super Bowl. Companies project that avocado shipments should be returning back to normal soon to offset the product shortage.

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