There are few foods on earth as intoxicatingly luscious as an avocado at the peak of its ripeness. Unfortunately, because of its high fat content (just a third of an avocado contains around 9 grams of fat), many weight watchers avoid it. What they don't realize is that most of an avocado's fat is the cholesterol-lowering, monounsaturated kind - what is often called "healthy fat." In addition, this fruit (that's right - the avocado is a fruit, not a vegetable) is rich in vitamin E, potassium, fiber, folate, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid and a host of minerals. This makes avocados one of the best splurges for those who are weight conscious - it's certainly far better for you than a slice of cake or French fries! There are countless ways to serve avocados - it's easy enough to put a few slices in your omelet, on a burger (hopefully a lean turkey burger), in a salad or mash a couple of them up into guacamole. But they are also tasty just by themselves. And their calorie content isn't as high as you'd think - that third of a medium avocado comes in at approximately 100 calories, and because of its fat content it's a very satisfying snack. So next time you're in the mood for something richer than your usual fare, instead of grabbing a box of cookies, reach for a ripe avocado.