Grilled Cheese Gone Healthy

Who doesn’t love a delicious grilled cheese sandwich? If not prepared correctly, grilled cheese sandwiches can become very unhealthy, however, if you use the right ingredients they can be a healthy and delicious meal. This particular recipe adds in the delicious and nutritious flavors of tomatoes and Californian’s favorite fruit, the avocado!

✿Whole grain or whole wheat bread is much better for you nutritionally than white bread. Bread is made out of flour that comes from grain kernels. A grain kernel has 3 parts: brand, endosperm, and germ (called this because it’s the part of the kernel that germinates into a new plant). Whole grain and whole wheat bread contain all parts of the grain kernel. White bread is made from flour with refined grains that have had the fiber-dense bran and the nutrient-rich germ processed out, leaving only the starchy endosperm. Removing the bran and germ also removes key nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, protein, and fiber.*

Ingredients:

• Whole grain or whole wheat bread
• Cheddar Cheese
• Avocado
• Cherry Tomatoes
• Olive Oil (only needed if making on the stove)

Directions:
Cut open your avocado and use a butter knife to create thin slices of the fruit. You will only need a quarter of the avocado for each sandwich. Cut your cherry tomatoes in half lengthwise. You will only need about 3 or 4 halved tomatoes, but you are welcome to throw on more! Take a slice of whole grain or whole wheat bread and cut in half. Place a slice (or two) of cheddar cheese in between the two pieces of bread. 

If you have a conventional oven, you can lay down some foil and place the sandwich inside to toast up and melt the cheese. Once it’s toasted to your preference, take the sandwich out and layer with avocado slices and sliced tomatoes. Yes, it’s really that easy!

If you do not have a conventional oven, warm up a drop of olive oil on a skillet and place the sandwich on top. Flip over to toast the other side. Once the cheese has melted and the bread is toasted to your preference, take it off of the skillet and layer the sandwich with avocado slices and sliced tomatoes.

This grilled cheese sandwich is a perfect example of how eating healthy can be easy and delicious!

Enjoy!