For those of us with busy schedules it can be hard to maintain a healthy diet. Whilst regular exercise is essential to stay fit, stress eating and late-night snacking can undo all that good work. It is easy to decide to create some healthier habits but it is by far harder to follow through with the resolution. Thus it becomes more important to change the nature of the snacking into something better for the body. The more generic nibble of crisps and dip can be easily replaced by hummus for a healthier and delicious snack or as a pre-dinner party appetiser.
Hummus, a dip or spread made from mashed and cooked chickpeas, is a popular foodstuff throughout the Middle Eastern world. It is traditionally blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and garlic; in today’s society there are a thousand different recipes depending on taste. Whilst buying pre-packaged hummus from a super-market can be expensive, the most basic recipe can be replicated at home at a fraction of the cost.
Hummus Recipe
- 1 small tin of chickpeas
- 1 clove of garlic
- 3 tbs olive oil
- 1 lemon
Directions:
- Drain the chickpeas into a bowl then lightly mash them until they form a paste.
- Add the lemon juice and the other ingredients, mix well and season.
Notes:
The best thing about home-made hummus is the ease with which it can be altered to suit taste. The most common addition to this recipe is tahini, a paste of ground sesame seeds. Also popular in hummus are chilli, cayenne peppers and cumin, although other spices can be used. This hummus tastes great with hot pita bread and only takes a few minutes to make.
Whilst this recipe is tasty and healthier for your snacking, it can get better. If you pour in a small amount (around 1 tablespoon) of plain yogurt instead of some chickpeas then it becomes even healthier. Should you willing to pay for it, most supermarkets will sell reduced fat hummus which is usually made with this recipe, or with a sesame paste substitute to replace the tahini.
The best way to make your hummus snacking healthier is to replace the more traditional flat-loaf bread with vegetables. It only takes a few minutes to cut up some carrot sticks, along with cucumber, peppers and celery. The fresh and crunchy taste of the vegetables compliments the hummus perfectly, and allows one to indulge in the pleasure of this chickpea-based snacking without thinking of the calories. Whilst hummus alone will not give you a healthier lifestyle, it is an example of the small changes which can create a healthier you.
