It’s hard to find healthy snacks that are nutritional these days; even those claiming to be healthy are secretly packed full of sugar and salt. Then we think, I’ll make it myself but the online recipes require too much and aren’t even a snack. Here is the fifth of our healthy snacks series from Neil Bowman Training’s Healthy Snacks – Hummus.
Healthy Snacks – Hummus
Hummus has become a stable in people’s fridges over the last few years. Hummus is not only delicious, but it is also versatile. It’s packed with nutrients and has been linked to many impressive health and nutritional benefits. Though chickpeas (the main ingredient of hummus) have all 9 essential amino acids to synthesis protein, it is worth noting that they lack in volume in terms of the quantity of the amino acids and are best eating in combination with lentils, legumes and nuts (Food Sci Nutr. 2020 Jun; 8(6): 2950–2958.) Hummus includes iron, folate, phosphorus and B vitamins, all of which are important for vegetarians and vegans, as they may not get enough from their diet.
These nutritious vitamins and minerals provide a wide array of health benefits ranging from potentially reducing the chances inflammation to reducing the risk of heart disease. Since it’s a great source of fibre, it’s perfect for promoting a healthy gut and is low on the Glycemic Index, so it works great for controlling blood sugar levels.
Hummus – Try it
There’s a few ways I use hummus, some conventional and some a little less conventional. Here are a few ways you may not have thought of.
- A dip – As we all know, hummus is great as a dip. There’s no denying that, whether it be served with carrot sticks, bread sticks or celery sticks, hummus goes amazing with them all.
- A spread – hummus makes for a great spread for a sandwich if you want something quick and fast. It compliments many sandwich fillings and is a great alternative to mayonnaise, butter or dairy free spreads.
- A thickener – hummus also makes for a great thickener, be it for soups, sauces or dressings. Being mild in flavour, it’s a great alternative to standard thickeners such as flour or corn-starch. This is helpful for those who are gluten free. Many use potato as a thickener for soups but hummus is much lower on the Glycemic Index.
- A binding/enriching agent – Some people might not agree but hummus makes a great alternative to dairy when making mashed potatoes.
In conclusion, hummus is a nutritious and versatile. It can be added to sauces and soups to add a nutritious thickener or eaten served on top of some bread.
If you’d like to see more like Healthy Snacks – Hummus; follow us on our app here on iOS or Android, or drop down in person and join us for a class.
