Healthcare Professionals Accepted The Hass Avocado Board's Avocado Rose At FNCE 2016

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. – At the recently concluded 2016 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo™ (FNCE®), nutrition professionals from across the country had the opportunity to participate in the Hass Avocado Board’s (HAB) Avocado Goodness Community Lounge. Back after its successful debut in 2015, the lounge allowed attendees to immerse themselves in all things avocado, including information sessions, fresh food sampling, and chef-led demonstrations.

Over the course of the three-day expo, several information-packed 15-minute science-based information sessions educated hundreds of attendees about the vital health role fresh avocados can play in daily diets, as well as the latest studies focusing on HAB’s health pillars: cardiovascular health, healthy living and weight management/Type 2 diabetes. These intimate small-group sessions, which offered an in-depth look at current and upcoming research, were led by HAB Director of Nutrition Nikki Ford, PhD and Dr. Julia Nordgren, physician and trained chef. Each session ended on a delicious note with an avocado recipe sampling, where Dr. Nordgren talked with attendees about combining fresh avocados with other ingredients and swapping avocados for ingredients high in saturated fat to maximize nutritional value and flavor.

The avocado goodness continued outside the lounge as well, with a 45-minute culinary discussion and demonstration entitled “Will You Accept this Avocado Rose? Why Good Fats Are America’s New Sweetheart.” The demonstration was led by Dr. Julia Nordgren, alumnus of the Culinary Institute of America and practicing physician at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, and Larry Leibowitz, a local Boston chef and owner of Bambolina Restaurant. The session focused on how avocados can be part of a heart healthy diet and raised awareness for HAB’s new four-year relationship with the American Heart Association®. Attendees learned how to prepare the Smoky Avocado Quinoa Breakfast Bowl and earned one CPE credit.

The alliance with the American Heart Association® is an important part of HAB’s five-year strategic plan calling for Hass avocados to become America’s number one consumed fruit. HAB’s support of the American Heart Association’s newly launched +color initiative is aimed at informing Americans about how adding just one cup of fruits and vegetables a day will make a simple, yet significant step to building a healthier, longer life.  

“FNCE provides us an opportunity to connect with health professionals who are on the front lines of engaging and encouraging Americans to improve their overall health and wellness,” said Emiliano Escobedo, Executive Director of HAB. “This year we were proud to be able to share with the nutrition community that we have taken a stand about the importance of heart health in conjunction with the American Heart Association®. Avocados are one healthy way individuals can add more color to their plate, and we look forward to working with the industry to help us reach our overarching commitment to build healthier lives.”

Additionally, in conjunction with this year’s expo, HAB hosted “Love One Today: In Bloom,” an event meant to educate influencers in the nutrition space about the latest avocado science and nutritional information while having fun making avocado roses. Attendees participated in several stations where they could taste an avocado cocktail paired with research-themed avocado food pairings, spoke with HAB’s director of nutrition, Dr. Nikki Ford, and mingle with other professionals while savoring the beautiful view of the Boston Harbor.

In support of its commitment to increasing awareness and improving understanding of the unique benefits of avocados to human health and nutrition, in 2010, HAB established a Nutrition Research program. The Nutrition Research program is an integral part of Love One Today, HAB’s multi-year, science-based food and wellness education program, which encourages Americans to include fresh Hass avocados in everyday healthy eating plans to increase fruit and vegetable intake. Fresh Hass avocados contain naturally good fats, and are a delicious, cholesterol-free whole food that can be used in a variety of ways. For more information and avocado recipes, visit www.LoveOneToday.com.

About the Hass Avocado Board

The Hass Avocado Board (HAB) is an agriculture promotion group established in 2002 to promote the consumption of Hass avocados in the United States. A 12-member board representing domestic producers and importers of Hass avocados directs HAB’s promotion, research and information programs under supervision of the United States Department of Agriculture. Funding for HAB comes from Hass avocado producers and importers in the United States.

In 2010, HAB established a Nutrition Research program to increase awareness and improve understanding of the unique benefits of avocados to human health and nutrition. Fresh Hass avocados area delicious, cholesterol-free, whole food source of naturally good fats. The Nutrition Research program is an integral part of Love One Today, HAB’s multi-year, science-based food and wellness education program. Love One Today encourages Americans to include fresh Hass avocados in everyday healthy eating plans to increase fruit and vegetable intake.

Source: Hass Avocado Board