Obviously bacon isn’t the world’s healthiest food, but that doesn’t mean you can never enjoy one of your favorites. It simply means you shouldn’t eat it on the side of a pancake or waffle tower. Pair it with something healthier for a balance you can feel good about. Avocado and bacon is one of my all-time favorite breakfast combinations!
Balance is everything. Even in your diet. I’m not a Dietician or nutritionist, please understand that. However, I studied Psychology for several years and have some of my own opinions.
Yes, nutrition is incredibly important, but so is sticking to a realistic long-term plan. Overly restrictive plans don’t work if people can’t enjoy some of their favorites, occasionally. Weight Watchers really got it right on this one, in my opinion (pizza and bagels are included? No wonder I know several women who are signed up).
If you’re like me, and want to work on your portions in a less structured way, I hear you. I also hear everyone who enjoys those fried strips of pork that I waited 29 years to enjoy. Yes, you read that right. I didn’t eat bacon until I was 29 years old.
A gift and a curse though, right? I avoided a greasy food that many people love for so long, but now that I’m older and should be focusing on a better diet with a new-found love of bacon. Ugh.
Why Avocado and Bacon are a Good Match
A nurse explained good cholesterol and bad cholesterol to me in the best layman’s terms possible: the bad cholesterol (LDL) is what clogs your arteries, and the good cholesterol (HDL) acts like the draino, getting rid of the bad buildup. Heart.org also has a good explanation about your house having a mess-maker and a mess-cleaner. Well, avocados are FULL of Omega-3 fatty acids which are known to boost your HDL cholesterol (and in turn unclog the LDL from bacon).
Now, there’s more to it obviously, so don’t hold me or the nurse to this very general analogy. And no, shotgunning avocados now won’t undo decades of bacon build up, but consider maintaining a balance moving forward.
Find Your Avocado and Bacon Balance
If you’re having 1/2 an avocado for breakfast and 4-5 strips of bacon, you’re probably balancing the two well. I don’t know the direct do-and-undo of the fatty acid and the bad cholesterol, and it likely depends largely on how greasy or bad the specific bacon you’re eating is, but my point is: have some avocado with your bacon. It certainly can’t hurt!
Avocado Toast Topping Alternatives
Add sliced hard boiled eggs on top of your avocado toast, or prepare some freshly cooked eggs on the side. I love a hard-boiled egg and a dash of pepper with mine. It adds some serious protein and nutritious substance to the meal.
Some mornings I have banana after my savory dish, acting as a ‘breakfast dessert’ which is also a pretty filling option.
Avocado Alternatives
Don’t love the taste of avocado? Kudos to you for still wanting to give it a try, probably with your health in mind. Avocado and salmon are really the two Omega-3 heavy hitters out there, and avocado can easily be altered to change the taste. I laid out a few examples how on my avocado spreads post. Check that post out for a few alternative flavor options. The Tex-Mex version probably masks the taste more and has some other healthy ingredients so it’s win-win.
Share your favorite avocado toast toppings in the comments! Bonus points if they include bacon.
