Step aside, apples -- avocado love is ripe for the picking. Fans have rallied around this once-feared source of healthy fat, and even better, recent studies have touted a positive trend between avocado consumption and overall diet quality.

 

Half an avocado a day is the ideal prescription, but you can eat it any time you’d like. In fact, you’ll be delighted to know there’s a place for it everywhere from breakfast to dessert. These recipes will have you wondering why you’ve been limiting yourself to guacamole all these years. Good thing you know better now.

Most of us wouldn’t call fruit salad a meal. This version, made hearty with walnuts and topped with a dollop of yogurt or fromage blanc, is an exception.

Avocado toast is having a moment -- the mild fruit is a perfect foil to just-crunchy-enough bread. For a summery twist, lightly grill your avocado before dousing it with quality olive oil, fresh Parmesan shavings, and a squeeze of lime.

You’ve heard it before, and we’ll say it again: Fat is not the enemy! Avocados replace egg yolks in this heart-healthy riff on egg salad.

For a heartier morning meal, use avocado to accent a veggie-packed Southwest scramble. Wrap in a whole-grain tortilla, and voila! Breakfast to go.

Like a drinkable face mask, this barely sweetened smoothie will help you glow from the inside out. Elixir of life, indeed.

Also filed under foods you can drink: Spring asparagus shines along with avocado in a soup that’s full of green goodness. Loving the liquid meals? Try our favorite chilled avocado soup or its shrimp-studded cousin instead.

For a veggie 'wich that strays beyond the standard sprout variety, call on cucumbers and radishes for crunch. Green Tabasco (made with jalapenos) and orange juice add flavorful intrigue.

The beloved BLT is elevated by a creamy green accent (a BLAT, if you will). See our take, served on focaccia with herbed oven-dried tomatoes.

Low-carb-sandwich lovers, rejoice -- this Mediterranean roll-up brings together the best of all worlds. Spelt or kamut tortillas make this wrap a nutritional powerhouse.

There’s something fishy about this Cobb salad. You’ll love the explosion of flavors and textures -- not to mention the hunger-eradicating protein boost. For more salads with the heft of a meal, we recommend Chicken Salad with Grapes, Avocado, and Almonds over Spinach; Shrimp and Avocado Salad; and Quinoa and Corn Salad with Pumpkin Seeds.

Lighter appetites will find much to love about this fruit-and-veggie based bastion of antioxidants. Consider adding Pink-Grapefruit and Avocado Salad and Avocado Salad with Beets, Green Olives, and Scallions to your rotation as well.

When snack time rolls around, avocados don’t need much to make them sing. Feeling adventurous? Opt for a drizzle of honey or Sriracha (rooster sauce) instead.

If you find yourself flagging between meals, try this tuna salad that's lightly dressed, Italian-style. Equal parts protein and healthy fat are sure to revive you.

Another avocado toast recipe? Don’t be silly -- this one’s bruschetta. Things just got fancy around here.

Banana and avocado? Believe it. You won’t believe you’ve never put them together before.

And while we’re talking fruity dip, who could say no to a scoop (or five) of mango guacamole? Purists can find a top-notch, classic guacamole recipe here.

You already know what good guac can do for tacos (give our killer grilled-fish and beef recipes a try). But did you know it can stand up as filling on its own? These smoky meatless enchiladas are anything but plain.

Give the jerk chicken a rest and opt instead for a tropical-inspired tenderloin at your next backyard soiree. Tiki torches not included.

Some nights, dinner is a thoughtful three-course affair ... and some nights, it’s pasta. Would that every pantry meal could taste this good. Give Soba Noodles with Tofu, Avocado, and Snow Peas a try as well.

Seafood enthusiasts will flip for these light but flavorful fillets. Also for the must-try list: Seared Scallops with Bacon, Tomato, and Avocado Puree and Shrimp Burgers with Slaw.

Even pizza gets the avocado treatment -- and boy, does it make pepperoni look like a slouch. Another fast-food-turned-health-food we adore: Portobello Mushroom Burger with Spicy Avocado Sauce.

You can probably guess the base of this updated childhood favorite. Don’t be nervous -- the taste is all cocoa, minus the puff.

There’s no hiding the green in this refreshing and unusual dessert. If you can drink a smoothie, you can handle this. Which brings us back to breakfast. What a day.