Heard a fitness instructor this morning say how bad avocado toast was (just in conversation) because it is a carb and a fat. Someone comments and says it is a “good” fat and if you have good bread, it’s fine!
What is the truth!?
Yay. It is ridiculous the amount of hate any one food gets from any one person, on top of that the hate for macros.
People would be much happier and content with their eating habits and life in general if they weren’t so worried about eating perfect. All the misinformation like what this trainer is saying creates unhealthy eating habits and paints an unhealthy picture of food for others.
Become an intuitive eater, eat what feels right, have that cookie, don’t beat yourself up over every little thing. You will become much happier and healthier once you let go of the perfectionist ideal of nutrition.
Sorry, rant over.
Avocado is undeniably healthy. Bread is meh.
But coming from a “fitness instructor”, the context around this topic could have been about a pre/post workout meal, for which you’d want something with more protein for a meal.
Everything is fine in moderation, I think if you really like it, work it into your life. Adding an egg maybe for more protein might make it more filling, but I think it’s fine. Do what works for you!
Avocado is fatty and higher in calories compared to other fruits, but it is packed with nutrients and tastes delicious! Bread isn’t bad for you - if you’re trying to eat “better” then opt for whole grain bread.
I am not a registered dietician but I do have a certificate in integrative nutrition so take my advice with a grain of salt, but I think avocado toast can definitely be a part of a healthy diet, especially with whole grain toast. Avocado is a great source of healthy fat. The only “bad” fats are trans fats which are not found in avocados. Avocado toast can make a very well rounded meal especially if you add a source of protein and a fruit or veggie on the side. The most important thing to remember is that all foods can fit into a healthy diet and if you enjoy the food then you should consume it without any guilt or negative feelings.
If you like avocado toast, then eat it.Honestly my beef here is that a fitness instructor was giving out this information. If they aren’t also a registered dietitian, they have no business giving out nutrition advice, even if it’s just in conversation.
I get what they are saying - from a fitness perspective, macros with a higher protein percentage are technically better for building muscle/losing fat. As well avocado toast is considered healthy by most but has very little protein. However, I don’t think we can just demonize avocado and (presumably) whole grain bread just because of the numbers. If you added a protein source to this as others have suggested, it’s a pretty healthy and complete meal. As long as calories don’t go way too high (assuming you’re trying to lose fat) then I don’t see the big deal. A trainer at my gym literally lives on pre-cooked chicken breast. He looks great, but that sounds like a miserable life to me.
there‘s nothing harmful about it, it can be part of a healthy eating pattern. right after a workout you should probably eat more protein though if you care about optimizing
there are saturated and unsaturated fats, but wether or not one leads to worse health outcomes is inconclusive.
A fitness instructor told you that? The heck? My guy is on crack.
its healthy, nutritious, and filling. the carbohydrates will give you energy (I heard it causes sugar crash for some people especially when eating it in the morning, but it won’t make you fat). The avocado on the toast is healthy fats and will also provide you with energy.
like what is wrong with some people? Even white bread isn’t gonna kill you
I’d say it all hangs on the type of bread, avocado is healthy and nutritious on its own. Pair that with ultra processed high glycemic white bread and yeah it can spike insulin and not be as healthy in that context.
Avocado paired with a sprouted grain or whole grain bread should still be considered to be healthy and nutritious.
Addition of an egg or two on there could help round out the meal with some protein and possibly minimize it’s glycemic impact / not spike blood sugar as much/ rapidly
I am sensitive to carbs. If I eat avocado and toast together, my blood sugar rise is minimal. If I eat carbs alone (aka naked carbs), I will get a big spike. (I know this because I experimented while wearing a continuous blood glucose monitor.)Is your body sensitive to fats? Before you can understand the answer to your question, you need to know more about your body.
For most people, it is a good combo if you pick a multi-grain bread. Healthy fat + complex carb is better than straight carb.
Avocado toast is good, lol. Ideally with whole grain bread, but again one or two pieces is going to provide you with pretty clean energy.
Everyone hates on avocado toast in particular like it’s the spawn of the devil, I will never understand it 😂
I’d say I’m glad that this fitness instructor wasn’t saying this by way of instruction. It’s nutritnent dense choice for part of a meal or snack. Nothing inherently bad about fat (regardless of the type of fat) nor is there anything inherently bad about carbs (regardless of the glycemic index, etc).
Avocado toast has a lot of valuable qualities nutritionally. Healthy fats, fiber, and carbs for energy. If you use a whole grain bread you will probably get some protein too. A fitness instructor might see it as ‘unhealthy’ because they prioritize protein and carbs in their diet. However, one could argue a higher protein snack is unhealthy if it comes in the form of a protein shake with artificial sweeteners (I don’t agree with this but it’s to contextualize the different perspectives approaching nutrition. The fitness trainer isn’t an RD/nutritionist so I wouldn’t trust their advice. Their priority is probably muscle growth so they will want a higher protein snack/meal.
That said, I don’t think I’d feel satisfied with plain avocado toast no matter how full of healthy fats and fiber it is lol. So I’d pair it with some tuna, deli meat, or an egg on top
Depends on your goals.
It’s calorie dense with avacado being a fat but it’s also one of the most nutrient dense fat sources and fat is also needed for our hormones to function correctly (in my albeit limited knowledge).
We need some fat in our diet so avocado is a great source. As long as it’s not taking you over your TDEE (if weight loss is your goal) I don’t see why it’s a problem.
Istg people can find a way to demonize anything they want these days. Avocados are FILLED with fiber, vitamins, minerals—you name it—and has been shown to lower LDL cholesterol levels + reduces the risk of chronic diseases . As for the bread, there’s definitely lots of highly processed choices out there, but generally speaking with whole grains, you are getting good, energizing carbs. Oh and it tastes good. Eat the toast.
High protein diets are just the current fad. No matter what the current fad is, a balanced diet will always be healthy and one food like avacado toast is just one piece of your diet. It on it’s own isn’t healthy or unhealthy it’s about how it fits into your overall diet.
High protein diets are just the current fad. No matter what the current fad is, a balanced diet will always be healthy and one food like avacado toast is just one piece of your diet. It on it’s own isn’t healthy or unhealthy it’s about how it fits into your overall diet.
Yeah so called fitness instructor is chatting out the other hole here! Bread for the most part isn’t great but sourdough and less processed/ whole grain stuff is a lot better than hobos thick white!Avocado has good fats, HDL’s which are high density lipoproteins, these fats not only don’t clog arteries but actively reduce low density lipoproteins (LDLs) clogging, their physical shape are like pieces of slate that chip away at and slice at the clogged fats. You crack on with your avocado on toast mate :) and like maytee said slap a couple eggs in there too!
Avo toast on a healthy bread is an excellent nutritional snack. Add a bit of protein to make it more balanced… or don’t. There’s no need to be religious about it. Also, I will parrot what somebody else commented: go to a licensed nutritionist regarding dietary advice, many fitness instructors are not qualified or knowledgeable enough to make dietary recommendations (This post being a prime example of that).
I met with a dietitian last week for some help with minor weight loss and general guidance. She put avocado toast on my meal plan but added mashed white beans for protein (I don’t eat meat or eggs). She said she doesn’t avoid bread for clients because it’s not sustainable. That made me feel much better about it
Nay. The instructor makes no sense given we all need a combination of protein, carbohydrates and fat. Avocados are an excellent source of fats and there are plenty of whole grain or enriched breads, some of which provide protein as well (never mind the other toppings like seeds, tomatoes or sprouts that some people put on). It’s a healthy option, just be light on the salt and choose a good bread.
it depends on the bread and how many servings you have. if you’re trying to be carb conscious avocado by itself with some cajan seasoning is pretty good. i find that people who have the strongest options about trendy food items are usually the ones who know the least.
Honestly.. I eat roughly a dozen eggs every single day (I’m a weightlifter) as well as quite a bit of avocado, and I’m totally golden healthy. I get regular blood work / check ups and absolutely no problems. I believe sometime within the last 2 years the department of health released a statement saying they were completely wrong about eggs and their link to cholesterol. They actually said ALL dietary cholesterol behaves much differently than they thought originally, so to eat all the eggs you want. I’m spitting purely from memory, so feel free to fact check - but, eggs and avocado are fairly healthy food items. Go for it!
The truth is you should eat what you want. Eating disorders are so common and even people claiming it’s for health will have disordered eating. Avoiding fats for the sake of avoiding fat is disordered eating.
Avocado is good fat, fiber and a ton of other nutrients. Fitness “instructors” are not really that knowledgeable and most know nothing about nutrition. Heck nutritionists vary wildly and aren’t thought of in the medical field as reliable. If you’re doing low/no carb then no, toast isn’t for you. But if you’re working out and eating healthy some great sprouted organic whole grain bread and avocado is awesome. Very good for you. But it has calories. A lot. So work hard.
It depends on what your goals are. If you are trying to lose weight I would recommend steering clear of carbs whenever possible. Maybe start replacing whole fruits with berries and whole grains with leafy greens. If you are not trying to lose weight then whole grains are perfectly fine in moderation. Avocados are great for you, but, again, in moderation. They’re rich in monounsaturated fats, vitamins A, C, D, & K, folate, b vitamins, etc. They are high in calories but that’s what the moderation is for.
I would recommend talking to a dietician, however, for advice tailored to your specific body and program.
Some fitness people like to focus on 2 macros at a time, and because protein is important to muscle growth, they prioritize protein and EITHER carbs OR fat to get gains. Some people live by this philosophy. I would interpret this as, “it’s not doing anything for your gains,” more than, “it’s unhealthy.”
That being said, do what works for you!
Fats aren’t the enemy, neither for weightless nor organ health. Sugar is. Yes too many saturated aren’t good, but don’t avoid healthy fats, if you want to lose wait, just balance your micros to properly fuel your body, and stay in a caloric deficit. Usually less carbs higher protein is a good rule of thumb.
My go to is Dave’s thin sliced sprouted bread, (less carbs, calories, and most important helps regulate my blood sugar.) Sunny side up egg, and avocado mash (avocado, a little bit of salt and pepper for seasoning along with lemon juice) and sprinkle some paprika on top. Pair that with a black coffee and I have a lean breakfast thats pacted with protein and nutrients that keeps me full until lunchtime. From a nutrition standpoint variety is probably the most important thing, you need to make sure your body is getting all the nutrients and vitamins it needs, don’t keep eating the exact same meals everyday.
Bread is not great. Simple carbs aren’t fantastic but are fine in moderation. However, avocado is great for you. It’s high in calorie density, yes, but it also has many very healthy fats and is a fitness staple for a good reason. It’s healthy in the same way nuts are healthy. In moderation.
It isn’t that its harmful nor is it good. The fat content isn’t high enough to activate much inflammation/metabolic stress when mixed with carbs which also means that it isn’t a significant source of healthy fats. It isn’t a high source of carbs or nutrients either. Its basically harmless but lacks “heartyness” and is therefore somewhat stupid to consume unless you have a scientifically backed reason to justify your claim that people who eat it aren’t neurologically impaired.