This was hard. I mean really hard. Hard like trying NOT to eat the cookies off the tray of homemade treats during the Christmas buffet kind of hard. Picking one post to be my favorite of the year was not even a little easy. I thought about the the Toad in a Hole post because I love the photo (who doesn’t want to have breakie with Jasmine the princess?). I also loved the homemade, healthier Twinkie–I just couldn’t stomach the idea of recommending anything that had sugar. I’m think I’m one dark chocolate covered almond away from pushing maximum density. So I chose the ALT sandwich. We got so much feedback on this baby. It was originally posted on SPC on August 11th but it’s great all year, especially after the Rum Cake on Christmas eve…

My favorite cuisine is Mexican. Ask anyone. I’ll never turn down a night of chips and guacamole, burritos and margaritas. So it’s such a bummer that my sweet Scarlett is allergic to avocado. The kind of allergic that equals violent, green vomit. Therefore, I now, mostly, live a life without guacamole. (I never said anything about margaritas though.) Yet when Best of the Season Week rolled around again I decided our readers (and myself) deserved a little avocado love. Besides, what was I doing with all the fresh, tomatoes I had kicking around my cottage. Obviously, a BLT. ”Aha! Healthy blogger lady,” you say. “That’s doesn’t sound good for my family. I’m going to my celeb gossip blog instead.” Well, you’re right. So I decided to come up with another “B” for the BLT. However, Bananas Lettuce and Tomato didn’t sound appetizing and Broccoli Lettuce and Tomato sounded worse. So meet the Avocado Lettuce and Tomato Sandwich, also known as the ALT.

When I was thinking about building this sandwich, I initially thought of basil. However, that didn’t sound very filling. I needed to put the basil into something. So I decided to blend it with some avocado. This creamy spread is so delicious I always have a hard time not eating it before I assemble the sandwich. So I eat it and make the sandwich.

Scarlett tore the basil for me since that was about the only thing she could do with this recipe. She was actually quite pissed at me for even daring to make a dish she couldn’t eat. She thinks everyone should avoid avocado since she has to. She goes so far as sometimes telling my friends that I have an allergy as well.

Now, I know you’re ready to call me out on the whole “Do kids actually eat this?” detail, but have no fear. I fed this sandwich to a few of Scarlett’s  friends that are a bit older and they enjoyed it. There was some poking around with the tomatoes. (Why must they flick seeds at each other?) However, one of her friends actually opened the sandwich and licked a slice of bread clean of the avocado. Take that bacon.

You can also pack this little gem up for lunch. Place each component in their own container and allow the kids to assemble with the bread at lunch. Gosh, even if they eat each separately, it’s still an awesome healthy lunch.

The ALT Sandwich (Avocado, Lettuce and Tomato)

4 basil leaves, torn

1/2 avocado, pitted and mashed

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 tomato

1 teaspoon olive oil

1/2 a head of Boston Bibb lettuce

4 pieces of multi-grain bread, toasted

sea salt

Serves: 2

Method:

Cut tomato and lay out on a plate. Coat with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Let stand.

Meanwhile, mash avocado in a medium bowl and then add lemon juice and torn basil. Mix until smooth.

Toast bread and then smear about a tablespoon and a half of the avocado spread onto the bread. Finish by adding tomato slices and a few pieces of lettuce. Cut in half or in quarters and serve with some cucumber slices.

Laura Keogh is the co-creator of Sweet Potato Chronicles.

More creative lunch ideas from Sweet Potato Chronicles:

Best Fish Sammie — This sandwich is off the charts and a definite surprise to same-old tuna.

Sandwich Sushi is a bento box lunch party with this easy twist on egg salad.

Hummus and Feta Sandwich on Whole Grain Bread is an easy lunch, especially if you buy a healthy, store-bought hummus.