Chickpea Your Child to Good Health!
The humble chickpea, or garbanzo bean as they are also known, is one of the most nutritionally potent foods you could ever hope to eat.
Chickpeas contain a whole host of nutrients including soluble and insoluble fibre, protein, complex carbohydrates and antioxidants, not to mention an awesome array of minerals and vitamins and immune boosting power perfect for boosting the health of your child! Just 1 cup of cooked chickpeas contains half the adult RDI of fibre, which means nearly a full dose for kids.
The 2 kinds of fibre contained in the chickpea mean that its gut supporting capacity is very special indeed.
The soluble fibre provides necessary bulk but the insoluble fibre remains unchanged until it reaches the large intestine where it can be broken down into short chain fatty acids which are needed for optimal cellular functioning in that part of the digestive system.
This benefit to health cannot be underestimated as good gut health is crucial to good health in general and is essential for proper immune function and toxin elimination.
The chickpea is also known for its high antioxidant and phytonutrient value which translates to incredible immune boosting benefits.
They also contain high amounts of minerals such as manganese which is a key antioxidant for cellular energy production.
This little bean has also been researched extensively and is known to be beneficial for the heart, to help us feel full and satisfied after eating as well as being able to balance blood sugar levels.
The chickpea is extremely versatile and can easily be used all year round in cooking.
They lend themselves beautifully to be added to soups, curries and stews of all kinds and in the warmer months can be used in dips and salads.
Chickpea flour is great to work with as well and can be used as a base for pastry, to thicken sauces, to add to patties and to coat food before cooking.
What child doesn't love dips and the chick pea can be used in myriad ways as a base for dips.
Simply combine with tahini, lemon juice, s&p, yoghurt, mint, mashed sweet potato, the list goes on.
Proper preparation is critical as all legumes, of which the chickpea is one, contain enzyme inhibitors and toxic substances that are quite difficult for the body to digest.
If you consider that in nature, for a seed to germinate it needs water, when we mimick nature and soak our chickpeas over night with the right additions we help with the breakdown of these difficult to digest components.
The result is an extremely nutritious and highly versatile ingredient that kids absolutely love when properly prepared.
Add a chickpea meal into your week and you will be going a long way to boosting your child's health!
Chickpeas contain a whole host of nutrients including soluble and insoluble fibre, protein, complex carbohydrates and antioxidants, not to mention an awesome array of minerals and vitamins and immune boosting power perfect for boosting the health of your child! Just 1 cup of cooked chickpeas contains half the adult RDI of fibre, which means nearly a full dose for kids.
The 2 kinds of fibre contained in the chickpea mean that its gut supporting capacity is very special indeed.
The soluble fibre provides necessary bulk but the insoluble fibre remains unchanged until it reaches the large intestine where it can be broken down into short chain fatty acids which are needed for optimal cellular functioning in that part of the digestive system.
This benefit to health cannot be underestimated as good gut health is crucial to good health in general and is essential for proper immune function and toxin elimination.
The chickpea is also known for its high antioxidant and phytonutrient value which translates to incredible immune boosting benefits.
They also contain high amounts of minerals such as manganese which is a key antioxidant for cellular energy production.
This little bean has also been researched extensively and is known to be beneficial for the heart, to help us feel full and satisfied after eating as well as being able to balance blood sugar levels.
The chickpea is extremely versatile and can easily be used all year round in cooking.
They lend themselves beautifully to be added to soups, curries and stews of all kinds and in the warmer months can be used in dips and salads.
Chickpea flour is great to work with as well and can be used as a base for pastry, to thicken sauces, to add to patties and to coat food before cooking.
What child doesn't love dips and the chick pea can be used in myriad ways as a base for dips.
Simply combine with tahini, lemon juice, s&p, yoghurt, mint, mashed sweet potato, the list goes on.
Proper preparation is critical as all legumes, of which the chickpea is one, contain enzyme inhibitors and toxic substances that are quite difficult for the body to digest.
If you consider that in nature, for a seed to germinate it needs water, when we mimick nature and soak our chickpeas over night with the right additions we help with the breakdown of these difficult to digest components.
The result is an extremely nutritious and highly versatile ingredient that kids absolutely love when properly prepared.
Add a chickpea meal into your week and you will be going a long way to boosting your child's health!