A crunchy, satisfying snack food that’s got plenty of vitamin B-6, protein and fiber.
More often than not, our kids don’t get enough protein to ward off hunger, repair damaged tissues and build new cells – basically to grow up healthy.
Here’s the simplest recipe on earth for a healthy, crunchy snack baked at home that appeals to adults and kids.
Roasted Chickpeas
- If more than one person will be snacking, recommend you break out at least 2- 3 cans of chickpeas (otherwise known as garbanzo beans).
- Place your drained and paper-towel-dried chickpeas in a big bowl and toss with extra virgin olive oil – barely enough to coat. Add a bit of sea salt or kosher salt.
- Bake in a shallow pan for 40 minutes at 4oo degrees. That’s easy to remember: “40 at 400”. Roast until brown and crunchy.
Imagine the possibilities! You could experiment with different seasonings and even add chopped garlic or toss in a tad of sesame oil. If you like it spicy, add some hot sauce or chopped shallot.
Take along a bag of ‘RC’ on a hike, to a picnic or plop in paper bags for movie night.
Three More Reasons to Try Snacking on Chickpeas and Other Wholesome Foods
- — Even if you or your child is not much of a meat eater, the crunch and children and adults benefit from a variety of protein sources.
— When we get busy, we tend to serve the same foods over and over to simplify life. Kids can love a certain food for months and then all of a sudden detest it. Mixing it up a bit helps kids adapt to different tastes and textures and widen their food repertoire.
— Snack foods full of chemicals aren’t going away any time soon. It’s up to parents to steer our preferences and our kids taste buds in a more healthy direction.