Home-Made Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus

Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus, topped off with Black Olives

This week at Chews Healthy we will be making a home-made Sun-dried Tomato Hummus. This recipe  will make you question why you would ever want to buy prepackaged hummus again. This snack recipe contains a 100% all natural and organic ingredients. Hummus is a really easy snack to make that is great for parties or even food to munch on when catching up to your favourite television show. It can  be spread or dipped. It's best accompanied with crackers, toast, sandwiches, or pita chips.

Chickpeas, the main ingredient in this recipe, is enriched with proteins, Omega 3 fatty acids, and doesn't contain any saturated or trans fats. Additionally, it helps prevent cholesterol buildups in your arteries. Tahini, a paste made from sunflower seeds which is used in the recipe, is also packed with protein and contains calcium.

Anyways, enough about the health facts and more eating! Let's get started!

Guilt-Free Cookies? Seriously, They Exist!

Cranberry-Coconut Flaxseed & Oatmeal Cookies

This week at Chews Healthy, I decided to try something completely different, cookies! Everyone likes cookies, in fact I have never met someone who would turn down a cookie. Hypothetically speaking, if they did turn one down I would just assume they were a diet or just plain crazy.  Assuming they are not mentally unstable, and just health conscious, I decided to try and make this batch of cookies as healthy and guilt-free as possible.

These cookies are loaded with nutrition and flavour! Each cookie is made with rolled organic oats, whole wheat flour, ground flaxseeds, agave nectar, cranberries and unsweeted coconuts. Not to mention that there is no refined sugar in this recipe. The flaxseeds are packed with fibre, proteins, omega-3 fatty acids and Lignans. Lignans are "a type of phytoestrogen that may protect against certain types of cancer, including breast cancer and prostate cancer. Even the National Cancer Institute has identified its cancer-fighting potential." (B. Hand and N. Nichols. 2013).

Okay, so let's get started!

Oven-Baked Stuffed Eggplant

Packed with Quinoa, Veggies, and topped with Goat Feta

This week at Chews Healthy, I decided to try something different, something I have never made before. I had originally had this dish at a friend's place last week at a small diner party, and to say the least I was quite impressed by the flavours from this entrée. The flavours in this dish are robust and savoury,  and is packed with proteins and vitamins.To top it all off, it is sprinkled with goat feta cheese, what's not to love, seriously!

Goat cheese is  higher in calcium, and lower in fat and calories in comparison to it's cow counterpart. "Goat cheese clocks in at eighty calories and six grams of fat per ounce, compared to cow's milk cheese, which generally has around 100 calories and 10 g of fat per ounce. This means goat cheese is the better choice for staying fit and thin." (Fromagerie Belle Chèvre. 2013)

Anyways, enough about the facts and more about the making and eating. Let's get started!

Zesty & Spicy Mexican Quinoa Salad

This week at Chews Healthy, we will be making a vegan friendly Mexican inspired Quinoa Salad. This salad is great served up with any main dish, such as grilled chicken breasts. Not to mention that it tastes even better the next day while it sits in your fridge, this allows all of the flavours to become infused together. This salad is enriched high levels of protein and has a small kick of spice for those who love the heat.

For those who do not know about quinoa, it is an ancient, gluten-free grain, which was "...originated in the Andeanregion of Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia and Peru, where it was successfully domesticated 3,000 to 4,000 years ago".[1] Quinoa can be used in a large variety of dishes from salads, to breakfast to dinner, it can be used anytime of day and is a great replacement for dishes that require a rice side dish. "One of the best reasons to enjoy quinoa is because it has a high-protein content, which makes it a great cholesterol-free and low-fat source of protein for vegetarians and vegans. According to the USDA nutrient database, 1 cup of cooked quinoa (185 g) contains 8.14 grams of protein. To put that in reference, the recommended daily protein intake is about 56 grams for most men and 46 for most women." [2]

This recipe is the easiest to recreate to date on Chews Healthy, so let's get started!