There are loads of days where I just don't get any protein. Hard work days when I just do a lot of snacking means a lot of carbs, and sometimes fruits/veg but very rarely do I SNACK on chicken or fish. But I've found that there is one easy snackable food that can provide protein. Chickpeas!

Turns out, 1 cup of chickpeas (a serving is more like 1/4-1/3 cup, of course) contains 15g or 30% of your recommended daily protein intake. So, my 1/4 cup portion of baked chickpeas (worth about 160-170 calories) provides me with about 4g protein. For comparison, a typical Kashi bar will run about 6g of protein (140 cals).
The big difference between the two of those is that you can't pop a piece of Kashi bar into your mouth every now and then for a while if you need something out of boredom. So, compared to other poppables the chickpeas are pretty protein heavy. Yes, I know, almonds would work too, but 1/4 cup almonds is fewer almonds than chickpeas, so they are a BIT voluminous =)
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How does one snack on chickpeas? you might be wondering. They're wet and taste a bit bland. They're a salad topping or something to put in a dip! But not if you....bake them! With spices.

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Baked Spiced Chickpeas

1 can garbanzo beans (15oz)
Generous spray of olive oil
Salt, Pepper, Cayenne, Cumin, Paprika.

Give a good dusting of salt, pepper and cumin. Go heavy on the paprika, light on the cayenne if you can't handle spicy.



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Step 1: After thoroughly draining the chickpeas, spread them out on a paper towel.

Step 2: Once the paper towel is thoroughly wet, put another one down, let that soak too.

Step 3: If you're patient, TRY to let the chickpeas dry as much as possible. They dryer they start, the crunchier they'll be in the end.

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Here they are after they've been dried...I'm not patient enough =(  and seasoned.

The more paprika you use the smokier and prettier they'll be. The cumin and cayenne can be a bit strong.


And the final product is above.

How you like this one kids, sorry for the short and to the point post, but this is my first and last day home at a reasonable time all week so I'm gonna actually work out WITH Boyfriend and spend the evening with him. I will be having brussel sprouts for dinner because my pre-gym snack was more like a meal!

<3 Dr. Jules

7/24/2012 11:43:17 pm

Hates-off for the writer, internet is the source of knowledge and inspiration because of the writers like you.

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7/29/2012 04:16:13 pm

Thank you for such a fantastic blog. Where else could anyone get that kind of info written in such a perfect way

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9/12/2012 07:28:59 pm

Thank you for such a fantastic blog. Where else could anyone get that kind of info written in such a perfect way

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    I'm a recent graduate from medical school and a pathology resident living in New York City. Like most girls living in the city, I've found that a lot of my social life revolves around the regular consumption of high-calorie food and alcoholic beverages. I've decided to start a blog about how I am trying to beat the bulge by eating and cooking defensively between social engagements and how even a busy girl can fit exercise into a busy life.

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