Get Healthy with Hummus

If you're like me, you've been enjoying a few too many holiday desserts and now you're ready to get back on track. Hummus is the perfect way to wean yourself off the sugar! Hummus is a healthy fat that has a creamy texture similar to the mouth feel of pumpkin pie and other unctuous foods, tricking your brain into thinking you're eating something naughty. It tastes rich while still being good for you. Slice vegetables to dip in the hummus for a healthy snack. My favorites are celery, carrots, and bell peppers.

Hummus is made from 2 main ingredients:

tahini and chick peas

Then you can add different ingredients for a million different hummus variations.
In this recipe I will be making roasted red pepper hummus with the following ingredients:

lemon, garlic, roasted red peppers, salt and garlic pepper

I like to use a cuisinart food processor to make hummus but a blender or mashing by hand will work just fine.

Ingredients:

*3 Tablespoons tahini

*1 can chickpeas

*1 lemon

*2 garlic cloves

*3 large slices roasted red peppers

*salt

*garlic pepper

Steps:

1. Rinse the chickpeas.

2. Combine all ingredients in a food processor and add a few drops of water to get things going.

3. Pulse until the texture turns smooth and creamy.

4. Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking.

Fats deconstructed:

What's a "good" fat and a "bad" fat? The correct term for a good fat is unsaturated and a bad fat is saturated. What makes one healthier than the other? The way the body absorbs it and the affect on blood cholesterol levels. Unsaturated fats are made of short chemical chains and easier for the body to absorb quickly and use for energy. Conversely, saturated fats are longer chains and are harder for the body to process, and thus are often stored as body fat. Unsaturated fats have been shown to improve brain and artery function and to reduce blood pressure. This is why they are referred to as "heart healthy fats". They are commonly found in fish, nut, and seed oils (i.e. tahini). Saturated fats, the kind you find in candy bars and processed food, raise blood pressure by increasing cholesterol and clogging arteries. Red meat and dairy products also contain saturated fat, which is why they should be eaten in moderation. Trans fats are strictly forbidden. Don't even think about them.

Our bodies require some fat to keep our brains active, to produce hormones, to make our hair, nails, and skin strong and shiny. Choosing unsaturated fats is the best way to give your body what it needs to perform at an optimum level!

Note:
While healthy for bodily function, hummus is still a high calorie food and portion control is key. Think of it as a sideshow instead of the main event. Three tablespoons of hummus has about 90 calories.