Who doesn’t love snack foods? They can be the one thing in our lives that throw our diet completely out of whack and cause us to fall of the wagon. But they don’t have to be evil! Finding those healthy snacks to replace the junk is a key to success in healthy eating.
One incredibly awesome snack that we have swapped into our diets is hummus. This food has so many health benefits for its simplicity. The main ingredient in hummus is chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans. These little peas may not sound like the most appetizing food, but believe me, they are versatile and nutritious! Along with a good amount of protein in each serving, chickpeas are also high in fiber, which will help keep your blood sugar levels under control and keep you feeling full longer. They contain several important vitamins to your diet like riboflavin (vitamin B2; plays a key role in energy metabolism) and niacin (vitamin B3; increases levels of HDL: the healthy cholesterol) and can help to lower cholesterol and cancer risks. Definitely a food to include on your menu!
Hummus is a great healthy option. There are so many variations to hummus that the flavor possibilities may seem endless (check out the variations section under the recipe for ideas). You will often see Tahini on the recipe list for hummus. Don’t let this word scare you! Tahini, simply put, is toasted sesame seeds in olive oil that have been blended into a paste. Again, this is another amazing food full of massive health benefits. You can add about ¼ cup of tahini to your hummus for a bit of a sesame flavor. The more tahini you add, the more that sesame flavor will come out. But as you can see from the recipe below, you can also make hummus without it!
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
1 can chickpeas
1 red bell pepper
2 garlic gloves
½ tsp sea salt
½ tsp black pepper
¼ tsp paprika
1 tsp fresh minced parsley
1. Roast the red pepper on the grill or gas stove top until it is blackened
2. Peal the skins off, remove seeds and chop into cubes
3. Drain the liquid from the chickpeas and put all ingredients in food processor.
4. Process until smooth
5. Put mixture in separate bowl and place in fridge until cold
6. Serve with multi grain chips and veggie sticks.
Variations:
Try adding about 2 tablespoons of lemon juice for a little citrus kick
Instead of peppers, throw in your favorite taco seasonings and make a spicy hummus
Or chipotle flakes with some onion powder and cayenne pepper
Sautee up some chopped onions and add those in once the chickpeas have been fully blended
If you try this recipe, or come up with your own variation, share it with us in the comments below or on our facebook page! You may create something that someone else visiting will fall in love with!
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