Veggie Hacks

Forget the Dips, Fresh Pico for Your Chips!

*A discrete and delicious way to get in fresh vegetables and limit saturated fat

Every BBQ, SuperBowl, Jazz basketball game, fiesta, or summer party comes with chips. And every chip comes with a dip (of some sort). Most dips available on the market today can quickly add up in saturated fat and sodium--both of which are advised to limit! (U.S. Dietary Guidelines). Now we all know those chips aren’t going anywhere, but we can find healthier alternative items to pair them with. A perfect partner for any and all chips is fresh Pico de Gallo.

Pico was always in my family parties and we rarely had other dips (like cheese and ranch) but that is how we liked it! My mom had a thing for fresh ingredients and pico is a must for every Mexican party. Not only is pico so beautiful and delicious, it is nutritious too! This salsa-type dip is so colorful because of the so many different vegetables and fruit, and it also gives a source of healthy fat (if avocado is included). All these fresh fruits and vegetables are part of a healthy eating pattern and will offer a variety of vitamins and minerals to keep the body strong and healthy (U.S. Dietary Guidelines).

Try out this recipe for your next event to turn chips into a nutritious, delicious appetizer or snack! It will surely be a party hit!

Pico Perfecto!

So Simple. So Good.

Yield: 5 cups

• 1 Medium Onion, diced
• 4 Roma Tomatoes, diced
• ¼ Pineapple (or 1 Mango), diced
• 10 Sprigs Cilantro, finely chopped
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 small serrano, minced
• 2-3 limes, juiced
• 2 Avocados, diced
• *(optional: ¼ tsp salt, to taste)

Hold the avocado to the side. Mix all the other ingredients in a large bowl. Add avocado and mix in last to avoid excessive smushing. If desired, salt to taste (I don’t usually salt since the chips usually have enough salt and this is a nice complement to that)