As Canadians become more and more aware of the need to make the right food choices to ward off health problems and obesity, there’s increasing interest in trying such culinary variations as Mediterranean recipes, southwestern rice recipes and hummus recipes to create fast and easy appetizers.
More than half of people in Canada rate themselves as physically active. But nearly 18% have high blood pressure, and in one survey period (2003 to 2011/2012) the obesity rate increased 17.9% for men and 16.8% for women. 7 out of ten men and half of women ingest more energy than they expend.
Hummus is made from chickpeas, which are a significant crop in Canada In fact, the country is one of the world’s top five exporters.
The health benefits of hummus are well-known to the medical profession. It’s a great source of protein. Canada’s Food Guide says three fourths of a cup (175ml) can be substituted for one Food Guide serving of meat. And hummus is very low in sodium; a 2-tablespoon serving has only 130 milligrams.
In 2014, one study found that people who snack on one or more of the flavors of hummus are 53% less likely to become obese and 51% less likely to develop problems with high blood sugar. Hummus is also rich in folate, which has been shown to reduce the rate of colorectal and certain other cancers while also lowering the risk of heart disease.
So, when you vary your diet by introducing new hummus recipes, as well as the many other mouth-watering Mediterranean alternatives and southwestern rice recipes, you’re not only giving yourself and your family better nutrition but laying the groundwork for everyone’s overall better health.
The next time there’s a holiday and it’s time to share good times with family and friends, break with tradition and make sure to take advantage of the wide range of hummus, Mediterranean and southwestern rice recipes to set a table of delectable snacks that’s sure to get rave reviews.