One had to go cold turkey because she was getting stomach cramps

Avocado: rarely has a type of food become such a neat emblem for an entire generation.

In 2016, the avocado is much more than a foodstuff – it’s a staple of millennial life. But what about those who don’t know when to stop? We spoke to some of the people who believe they are in the grip of avocado addiction about whether too much of a good fat can be a bad thing.

Meg Davies, 20

How addicted are you to avocado?

I’d go as far as to say it’s a bona fide addiction now. Having to wait for one to ripen is like putting a treat in front of an excited puppy and telling it not to eat.

When/where did you first have one?

My grandfather used to run a fruit and veg shop, so I like to think my avocado addiction was nurtured from the moment I was allowed to eat solids as a wee bambino.

What’s your favourite way to eat avocado?

With scrambled eggs and roasted vine tomatoes. To be honest though, I’m not fussy – I’d happily just spoon out the raw substance as a snack.

Some extra virgin olive oil with avo and sea salt is the best way to consume it. And whoever decided to put avo in the chicken sandwiches at Pret deserves an OBE.

What’s the longest you’ve gone without one?

I didn’t have any avocado for three weeks in Greece one summer. It was torturous. Do you think I could find one anywhere? No. I lost all respect for the Greeks. They might have invented philosophy but they don’t appreciate the food of gods.

What’s been your biggest avocado binge?

Breakfast, mid-morning smoothie, lunch, and dinner. I’m surprised I didn’t turn green.

Grace Vielma, 24

How addicted are you to avocado?

I’m so addicted my friends make fun of me when they see me eating a dish without it. Then they remind me of the time I didn’t used to like avocados, and how much I’ve changed.

How often do you eat avocado?

I eat at least one avocado every day, including weekends. In fact, I think I smashed through four this weekend, with all the brunching.

When/where did you first have one?

My parents introduced me to avocados when they weren’t cool but I was young and naive and just didn’t understand the fuss.

My first proper one was nearly three years ago now, I’d say August 2013 when I first moved to London. I tried a friend’s avocados and toast and never looked back.

What’s the longest you’ve gone without one?

I went two whole weeks last year on a trip to Bali – they’re not a thing over there. It was hard.

What’s been your biggest avocado binge?

I really binge on avocados when I make Mexican food, as it takes several to make a good guacamole (which I can and will eat straight from the bowl).

I reckon I’ve put away four on a Sunday without thinking.

Eleni Mitzali, 22

How often do you eat avocado?

On a normal week I eat between three and five avocados at home. If avocado is an option it is always going to be added to anything I eat. That doesn’t include any avocados I get eating out, in salads, at brunch etc. Those are a bonus.

I got offended at a personal trainer who told me to only eat a quarter of avocado with my breakfasts. I didn’t listen.

When/where did you first have one?

My mom used to make an insane guacamole so when in high school sometimes I would literally just eat chips and all the guac (mind you it was made out of at least one avocado) for a meal.

I see chips or any other veggie as a vehicle for guac.

Describe your perfect avocado

When I’m at the supermarket feeling avocados I go for the ones which, on a hardness scale of 1-10 (one being the hardest, 10 the softest), are a four.

I don’t like when they are too soft but they have to be soft enough to cut and scoop out perfectly.

What’s been your biggest avocado binge?

Once I ate just half an avocado for breakfast for a whole week.

Isabel Gonzalez-Prendergast, 21

How addicted are you to avocado?

Very. I scrape the edge of the skin until every morsel is gone.

Describe your perfect avocado

You know it’s a perfect one when you squeeze it lightly and it sinks slightly with your fingers. Then you cut into the skin and you immediately feel the soft green lusciousness under your knife.

The worst thing is pulling the knife out to see brown. Tear-worthy.

What’s your favourite way to eat avocado?

Cut in half, drizzled in lemon juice and sprinkled with salt and pepper. You don’t need to do fancy shit, just eat it. It’s amazing on its own.

What’s been your biggest avocado binge?

This one time I put avocado in my smoothie, then I had some Wahaca guacamole (mmm) at lunch and then later I had it in a salad. Pretty dangerous.

Megan Dye, 21

How often do you eat avocado?

I eat avocado in some shape or form every day, normally twice a day.

Describe your perfect avocado

On the verge of going over the edge of ripeness, but just enough so it crushes really easily and then is really nice and creamy.

What’s your favourite way to eat avocado?

Smashed on some toast with poached eggs and some sprinkled dry chilli flakes.

What’s been your biggest avocado binge?

I would say this week – I’ve bought so many and gone through a ridiculous amount. About eight packs of two. Help.

Anna Rhodes, 23

How addicted are you to avocado?

I was very addicted to avocado. I ate one every day for two years, and then found out they were the thing giving me horrific stomach pain so I had to stop.

I literally had to go cold turkey – Avocados Anonymous.

Describe your perfect avocado

The perfect avocado is green on the outside, and slightly squashy: an avocado that can be crushed pretty easily. That, on toast, with poached egg.

What’s the longest you’ve gone without one?

I went five months without one after they made me ill. Apparently large-stoned fruits and vegetables can make people feel very ill, like gluten, so you can’t have avocado on the FODMAP exclusion diet. It’s mental, as you think it’s so good for you but can trigger serious stomach cramps.

Now I limit myself to one a week.

Jenna MacFarlane, 20

When/where did you first have one?

I first had one only at the start of 2016 – best moment of my life – when my flatmate made me poached eggs and avocado.

I became so addicted to that meal that I literally wrote a blog post on it.

Describe your perfect avocado

The perfect avocados are the perfectly ripe ones from Waitrose. I work at Waitrose, but that’s still nothing but the truth.

What’s been your biggest avocado binge?

My biggest binge was when I had poached eggs and avocado twice in one day, with a two-hour gap between each one.

Laura Fitzpatrick, 21

How addicted are you to avocado?

I’m addicted to the point that I salivate at the thought of a plump avo for lunch. In the words of Amy Winehouse: “It’s got me addicted, does more than any dick did”.

When/where did you first have one?

I used to be scared of the texture of avocados, so I didn’t really eat them until just over a year ago when my brother made some amazing guac.

Describe your perfect avocado

The perfect avo is an ALDI avo. Too big to fit in my palms, without a stone that’s too big and perfectly green inside, with a darker green on the outside. That’s what beauty is.

What’s the longest you’ve gone without one?

I don’t really go without…

What’s been your biggest avocado binge?

It’s not really a binge if it’s healthy, right?