Benefits of eating hummus
The benefits of eating hummus are endless, but we wanted to share our top three benefits with you!
One of my go-to snacks for myself and my clients is none other than the chickpea goodness that is hummus. For those of you that haven’t tried it before, I understand! My family would eat it, and I would not so much as try it. Once that changed, it quickly ranked in my top 5 favorite foods!
This is a well-balanced nutritious snack that contains a nice combination of all the macronutrients. It has carbohydrates for fast energy and protein, fat, and fiber for slow-acting energy that contributes to satiety.
Here are the 3 benefits of eating hummus!
1. It’s versatile
It can be paired with almost anything to make a convenient snack, or as an addition to any meal! Here are my top 5 pairings:
- Carrot chips: Wegmans usually carries these. You can use baby carrots instead but they are not as fun in my opinion and don’t hold as much hummus.
- Pita chips or toasted pita bread/naan: I like toasting the pita bread to make it warm and crispy!
- Snap peas: These are already washed and dried so they’re super convenient.
- Cucumbers : Go for the mini cucumbers for grab and go!
- Corn tortilla chips: I love the tricolored ones from Trader Joe’s.
2. You’ll never get bored
Hummus comes in so many different flavors! From the simple Garlic flavor to Sriracha Carrot, even the most adventurous eater will have plenty of diversity. If you ever get bored of your current flavor, just switch it up! Sabra has plenty of flavors to choose from, and you can find them all in your local grocery store.
3. You can include it in every meal
Hummus may seem like the perfect snack, but it can also be used in each one of your meals!
Breakfast: try spreading hummus on a slice of whole wheat toast and adding a dash of everything spice.
Lunch: add hummus to chicken pitas for a filling meal that will keep you full throughout the work day! Another idea is this great chicken salad using hummus instead of mayo!
Dinner: make this hummus-crusted chicken for a meal chock full of protein and healthy fats to keep those nighttime sugar cravings at bay.
Photo credit Kaitlin Eckstein
Another great benefit of eating hummus is you can make your own!
Here are some of our favorite hummus recipes with easy ways to modify for food sensitivities.
Black bean hummus homemade recipe
Photo credit Kaitlin Eckstein
Basic Hummus recipe
Low FODMAP: No garlic for you! But you can make your own! Replace the regular olive oil with the garlic-infused olive oil from Nicer Foods to get the taste!
Gluten-free: Hummus is gluten-free, so you can enjoy this tasty treat without any cares!
Vegetarian: It is a great source of protein for vegetarians. Eat up!
Whether you’re looking for a tasty snack or something to add a new twist to your meal, hummus is a great option. With so many flavors and pairing options, you’ll never be tired! For more ideas on how to include hummus in your diet, visit a Registered Dietitian, who can help you with incorporating it into your meal planning. Click here or call 301-474-2499 to make an appointment.
Blog reviewed and updated February 2020.
Dana uses her advanced training in functional nutrition and food sensitivities to help her clients love and trust food again as they heal from years of painful symptoms that have dominated their lives. Co-author of Nourished: 10 Ingredients to Happy, Healthy Eating and Cooking with Food Sensitivities Survival Guide.
