The hotter the weather gets, the less I feel like cooking. I don't want to be over a hot stove cooking something in hot weather; thankfully with warmer weather comes more fresh local foods. In the warmer months we tend to eat healthier as well; not just because of the abundance of good food but for some of us swimsuit season can lead to a better eating habits.
One of my favourite things to make a healthier meal is chickpeas. You can find them canned everywhere, and a quick drain and rinse makes them an excellent addition to salads, sauces and other veggies. It's amazing how good chickpeas are for you! 1 cup of cooked chickpeas contains:
269 calories
45 g of carbohydrate
15 g of protein
13 g of dietary fiber
4 g of fat
0 g of cholesterol
If you are trying to cut down on your meat consumption, chickpeas as well as other legumes and beans make the perfect addition to your diet. Here are 8 health benefits of eating chickpeas:
Need more convincing? Here are 2 more articles singing the praises of chickpeas:
https://draxe.com/chickpeas-nutrition/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/280244.php
One of my favourite ways to use chickpeas is to make hummus. It's quick, easy, healthy and delicious. You can eat it with fresh veggies like carrots, cucumbers, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, or eat it with some whole wheat pita. I've also used it in place of mayonnaise when making a sandwich. Here's my recipe:
1 796 ml can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
4 green onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup parsley, chopped
1/3 cup tahini
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. salt (to taste)
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper (to taste)
Put all ingredients in a food processor and blend until fairly smooth. Add more lemon juice or water if needed to achieve the right consistency.
So don't let the hot weather get you down; get healthy with the help of the humble chickpea.