Be Well @ Stanford

Hummus: Helps Decrease Hunger Grumbles
July 31, 2009
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I was scanning the hummus aisle at my local Stop 'n Shop yesterday only to find that my favorite brand, Sabra, was unfortunately not in stock. This inspired me to write today's post about hummus. Many times I've recommended hummus to clients as a great-tasting, healthy "spread". Some would ask: "What's hummus?" or "Isn't that fattening?"

Hummus is a Mediterranean spread commonly made from a chickpea (garbanzo bean) and tahini (ground sesame) base mixed with olive, soybean or canola oil to form a creamy paste. It can be plain or flavored with spices, veggies, nuts and more. On average, one serving (2 tablespoons) of hummus provides approximately 50-60 calories, 2-5g of fat (most is heart-healthyunsaturated fat), 3-5g carbs, 1g fiber and 1g protein. The combination of carbohydrates and protein from the chick peas plus healthy fat from canola or olive oil will keep you full longer.

Some think hummus is "fattening" because if you dip endlessly into it, the fat grams can add up. As with anything, you should watch your portion size. When thinking of fat grams, keep in mind that the unsaturated fat in hummus makes it a great dip or spread alternative to higher saturated fat alternatives including mayonnaise, sour cream and cream cheese-based dips.

Hummus is usually found near the produce or deli aisles in refrigerated shelving at most grocery stores. There are many brands available on the market including: Athenos, Cedar's, Trader Joe's, and other store brands.

As I mentioned above, Sabra brand hummus is my personal favorite. I discovered Sabra one year ago and never turned back! Some hummus brands taste too pasty and lack zesty flavor. Sabra hummus is creamy and smooth. The flavored versions include roasted red pepper, Greek olive, peppadew, jalapeno, hummus with roasted pine nuts, and my very personal fave,supremely spicy. Using the roasted red pepper as an example, when you open the lid, there are bits of roasted red pepper atop the creamy hummus. All you need to do is mix the red pepper in and your in business.

I've found some great ways to enjoy this gourmet-tasting spread:

• Spread on crackers
• Use as a dip with veggies or pita pieces
  
• Make egg salad with 1-2 tablespoons of hummus rather than using mayonnaise
• Take hard-cooked eggs, pop out the yolks, and add hummus into the whites for a snack or creative party appetizer
• Add in a wrap as a base to any sandwich
• Spread lemon-flavored hummus on white fish such as flounder or tilapia and bake

If you're not in a time crunch and feel like making your own, even better! There are tons of hummus recipes available on recipe websites and in cookbooks. But don't feel guilty if you opt for store-bought hummus. Especially in the case of Sabra, the ingredients are few and mostly natural. This is NOT a product with 15+ unidentifiable ingredients lurking in a forever-shelf-stable food item. Most store bought hummus must be refrigerated and should be used within 1-3 months, depending on the use-by date.

If you haven't tried it already, spread some today. I bet you'll love it!

Nutrition Data: Know What You Eat

Some New Snack Ideas

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POSTED BY: Dana Lilienthal | July 27, 2009

Fitness magazine got together their nutrition experts to compile a list of the Best Snacks. After going through thousands of different foods they came up with a list of items that you can add to your grocery list to make shopping for great foods easier.

Here are some of their best snack recommendations:

Sabra Hummus makes a great dip for veggies or pita chips and can also be a great spread on a sandwich - it's also my favorite brand!
Per 2 tablespoons: 70 calories, 2g protein, 4g carbohydrate, 6g fat (1g saturated), 1g fiber

Fitness Magazine

The Best Grocery Store Snack Foods

July 2009
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Best Hummus

Sabra Classic
This chickpea spread is so supremely creamy that testers gobbled it up. We love it with veggies or as a sandwich spread in place of mayo.

Per 2 tablespoons: 70 calories, 2g protein, 4g carbohydrate, 6g fat (1g saturated), 1g fiber

Honoring Health

Sabra Hummus Singles
July 25, 2009
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Sabra hummus is my absolute store bought hummus but my problem is that I am never in the mood for it enough to eat a whole package before it goes bad. When I saw these individual packages in Costco, I knew they were made for me!

Inside of course is the creamy, smooth Sabra hummus we all have come to know and love but the packages are just the right amount for a sandwich or a quick snack.

I love to eat hummus with English Cucumbers, crisp red pepper strip or honey crisp apples. With these little containers by my side, I’ll be able to have my hummus and eat it too!

Sabra July Blog Watch

Lucky Taste Buds!
Sabra Hummus Uncensored....View Article

Go-Getter Girls!
Love it! Sabra Hummus "To Go"...View Article

My Everyday Blog
My Hummus Trials...View Article

Jewlicious
What's New in Kosher Foods?...View Article

Amy's Quest to Skinny
Rain...View Article

Blaire Blanchette
Food=Good...View Article

Farm Girl on the Hill
Breakfast Food - Foods I Graze On...View Article

What's For Dinner
Falafel-O-Rama!...View Article

Nylon
Cest Chick Pea...View Article

Play Hard, Eat Good
Essential Grocery List...View Article

Healthy, Hott Housewife
Where did I leave off?...View Article

I Quit Dieting
Sabra Hummus Singles...View Article

VeganChick
Hungry for Hummus...View Article

Food Chat
Hummus Helps Decrease Hunger Grumbles...View Article

My Favorite Things
Heavenly Hummus...View Article

Healthy Tipping Point
Do I Look Like A Sucker To You?...View Article

The Decayed Gentlewoman
Yum!...View Article

Elaine's Place
Healthy Snack Ideas...View Article

Too Domestic For My Own Good
Crazy For Costco...View Article

Jive Turkey
People Who Need Smacked...View Article

The Fluctuator
Dinner For One...View Article

Go-Getter Girls! ®

Love it! Sabra "To Go"
July 10, 2009
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Some days you have time to pack a Ziploc of fresh veggies or raw nuts for a mid-afternoon snack. But other times, you’re grabbing something on the go– and that something is ideally tasty, crunchy, and oh yeah, healthy too. Over Fourth of July weekend, two Go-Getter Girl friends introduced me to Sabra hummus “To Go” packs– which might just be the perfect summer snack. It’s a little self-contained package of creamy, tangy hummus (available in classic, roasted red pepper, or garlic flavors), plus a handful-size serving of crispy pretzel chips. And, since the pretzels and hummus are sealed separately, you can choose to opt out of the crisps and enjoy the hummus as a dip for things like (naturally) freshly cut veggies.

Available at many grocery stores and markets, check Sabra’s website for locations near you.

New Sabra Commercial

Chef Colombe Jacobsen featuring Sabra

In the Know: Sabra Tour

The Epoch Times

Presidential Candidates Briefly Immortalized in Hummus
July 1, 2009
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NEW YORK—The candidates are the heads of the table—literally. Heads of presidential candidates John McCain, Barack Obama and former candidate Hillary Clinton made of hummus made a show at the 54th Summer Fancy Food Show yesterday along with other products playing up the electoral hype.

Three political rivals sat in unlikely harmony in the back of an aisle flanked on both sides by a medley of different products while Kirk Rademaker, the mind behind the heads, carefully sculpted their faces. Scoop by scoop he places dollops of humus that has slid from place back into its original state, a process Rademaker jokes as a "face lift."

Carved from over 100 pounds of hummus supplied by Sabra Go Mediterranean, a New York company specializing in making dips and spreads, the candidates are true to life as any food product can be. Hillary Clinton has blue M&Ms for eyes while both McCain and Obama sport raisin dotted ones.

A seasoned sand sculptor for the past 10 years, Rademaker was approached by Sabra into producing the three political figures. Sabra wanted to define their brand as "American as these candidates have become" and Rademaker hopped on the wagon.

While working on the project, Rademaker carefully studied the expressions and facial structures of each of the candidates. He then created plaster models to give it a three dimensional feel. Despite the initial preparation, the actual work was more difficult than expected.

"When you work with sand it stays in place," says Rademaker. "But hummus is wet and gooey and it drips all over the place. But it's all fun."

In the process, Rademaker also discovered a swing in political opinion.

"Originally I was for Obama," says Rademaker. "But when I started studying Hillary's features more and more for the sculptures, I kind of developed a liking for her also."

Other exhibitions also put out patriotic themed items as well. Byrd Cookie Co. displayed red and blue state cookie tins while Long Grove Confectionary Company introduced animal chocolate lollipops in shapes of the Republican elephant and Democratic donkey. Drinks by McSteven's Inc featured coffee called Obamaccino and McCain Mocha.

In its 55th run this year, the show featured over 2,400 exhibition booths with specialty foods ranging from culinary giants such as France and Italy to newcomers from the United Arab Emeritus, Panama and Costa Rica. Hundreds of vendors displayed dozens of kinds of cheeses and others lured retailers with enticing displays of rare products such as truffles.

Oganic foods also dominated the exhibition this year, taking up an entire section of the floor.