Healthy Changes can Include Pasta #Choosechickapea

When it comes to meals in a hurry I often turn to pasta. There are so many meals I can create with such little time that the entire family will love. A few months back I started watching what I was eating and making healthy choices. There was one day the kids were all rushed and dinner was needed in a hurry. I made pasta for dinner and noticed a difference instantly in how I felt after eating it. Tired, bloated and a bit sluggish. My body was adjusting to my changes and did not like me eating like I use to.

This made me a bit sad. I did not want to eliminate pasta form my life. How was I going to continue to make my family the meals they love and still keep things healthy? A dilemma many of us face day to day for sure.

Introducing Chickapea Pasta

Chickapea promises to always have yours and your family’s best interests at heart. They believe in simple, wholesome foods that are 100% real – sourced from this beautiful planet of ours! Nothing artificial! No added sugars! Just chickpeas and lentils!

Over a year ago, new mom Shelby Taylor, a native of Collingwood, ON, set out to create a line of products that is truly healthy and easy for busy families. This idea was born out of her frustration in finding better food choices for her own son, but quickly grew after she talked to other families who expressed the same challenges. Shelby took her passion to Kickstarter, where she quickly met her goal with the help of community backers who shared her vision.

After over a year of research and development, finding the right ingredients and testing the perfect blend, Chickapea was born. The result is a line of pasta that is made from only two ingredients – organic chickpeas and organic red lentils. That’s it. This simple ingredient list packs a powerful punch of health benefits, which are listed below in the program outline.

Chickapea is just the beginning for this passionate mompreneur! Under her parent company, Earth to Kids, Shelby has big plans to expand and grow her healthy food choices.  

Now we can have our quick and easy comfort foods without the worry about it being healthy. Chickapea pasta is high in fibre, an excellent source of protein, gluten free and takes only 7 minutes to cook. This all natural pasta with no added sugar or preservatives makes it a healthy addition to any meal. With 23 grams of protein per serving, Chickapea has as much protein as a 3oz serving of salmon or chicken! Plus, it has 40% of your daily iron intake! 

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Last week on a busy day I wanted to make something filling and yummy for lunch. It was a hot day and there was no way I wanted to turn the oven on. More I thought about it I was wanting something fresh, quick and cooler. I decided to make a summer fresh pasta salad with BBQ chicken.

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I used all fresh and local ingredients to make this tasty pasta salad.

Summer Fresh Pasta salad

1 Bag of Chickapea Penne (boiled and rinsed with cold water)

1/2 cup of blueberries (washed)

1 cucumber washed and diced

1 tomato washed and diced

1 green pepper washed and sliced

1/4 cup of light dressing

Mix everything together and serve as a main dish for lunch or a side with dinner.

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The pasta was really good and complimented the recipe nicely. Everyone had a serving and enjoyed it. The kids did not realize they were not eating our regular traditional pasta, or at least they did not say anything was different. Best of all I felt great after eating it with none of the strange feelings last time I tried to enjoy pasta. Next I am planning a tomato and chunky vegetable sauce with the chickapea pasta. I am excited to see how it turns out.

You can find Chickapea pastas at natural, nutrition and specialty grocers nationwide. Checkout their website for a retailer near you. Their website also has yummy recipes you can try for yourself. Follow the hashtag #Choosechickapea for others.

Next month I will be sharing a great giveaway with you from Chickapea, be sure to watch the blog for it.

Have you tried Chickapea? Are you looking for healthier options when it comes to your meals?

 

Disclosure- I am a Chickapea ambassador. Compensation will be received in exchange for my involvement with this program. As always, all opinions are my own. 

Comments

  1. I don’t eat chickpeas normally, and have never seen this pasta. But I do like to eat healthy.
    What was the texture like? Was it extra chewy?

  2. Victoria Ess says

    Oh wow, I love subbing “real” pasta with healthier alternatives! Will have to try this for sure!

  3. I am a big fan of chick peas. I never knew there was a chick pea pasta, I would love to substitute this for traditional pasta, I am sure it is delicious.

  4. I can’t wait to give this chickpea pasta a try! I’ve been trying to limit simple carbs, but I DO miss pasta. This is great!

    • We are full of the GOOD carbs! We understand carbs are such a hard hurdle to conquer in health but we ensure the carbs you ARE taking in from Chickapea will provide you with the energy your body needs to expend the extra calories your body may take in so you aren’t gaining any unwanted size 🙂

  5. I will have to try this pasta. I love that it has so much protein in it and only 2 ingredients. There is even a location in my city that sells it.

  6. What a great alternative to traditional pasta. It’s terrific that’s it’s all natural. Can’t wait to try it.

  7. I need to find this because I’m kind of sick of regular pasta and I’m trying to do less in the carbs area. I just cannot tell my kids or my husband that it’s chickpeas LOL.

  8. I don’t think I know chika pees except making hummus. I’ll have to check out these other recipies.

  9. Reesa Lewandowski says

    This definitely looks like something that I would love. I am always looking for new foods and this is pretty awesome.

  10. I am going to have to get some of this for my pasta dishes to see how different it is. I am always looking for variety!

  11. alalisainfo says

    I am always on the hunt for new foods and recipes to try out. This pasta looks great!

  12. Florence Cochrane says

    I love chickpeas. I don’t think it is in my area yet. I checked the where to buy link.

  13. I get so tired of plain pasta- we eat it so much. I am going to have to try this out. I am always up for trying new things!

  14. Elizabeth Lampman says

    This looks like a delicious recipe. I will have to pick up some Chickapea pasta to try.

  15. I have never heard of Chickapea pasta before. It looks delicious. I will have to pick some up and try this recipe for dinner this week.

  16. I can’t wait to try chickpea pasta!! I’ve been trying to limit carbs, but I’ve never give up on my pasta! Thank you for sharing it!

  17. this looks so good. i have never tried it before. i will have to look for it the next time i’m at the store which will probably be tomorrow.

  18. I love chickpeas! I had no idea you could get chickpea pasta! Yummy!

  19. mandiestevens says

    I love chickpeas and normally don’t eat ‘regular’ pasta so this is perfect! I will look out for it.

  20. My kids love chickpeas and pasta! I know they’ll love this recipe! Thanks!

  21. kristen visser says

    first of all that pasta salad looks absolutely delicious! i have such a love for pasta salads. also I have never heard of this pasta before but what an awesome idea. my young girls love pasta and never eat enough of the veggies so this is such a great combo. i will have to look for it next time

  22. I really love chickpeas and had no idea a product like this existed. Definitely looking for this the next time I grocery shop, your recipe looks so good!

  23. This is so cool. I’d love to start using this pasta with a few different recipes. I bet I’d love it. Your salad looks great!

  24. This has got to be the coolest thing ever! I have never heard of it but would love to try it!

  25. We love chickpeas, and now I’m very curious about this pasta! I’ll be looking for it!

  26. I love this awesome penne and the salad looks delicious.I like that there are blueberries in it too.Salads like this one are awesome!!

  27. My other half is slowly turning us on to chick peas. These noodles would be a great way to make them more of a feature in our meals.

  28. Checking out their website right now. It looks really good! We like chickpeas and lentils.

  29. Yum! I never liked pasta salad as a kid, but now as an adult I love it and it makes for a great lunch to take to work too.

  30. I love trying new varieties of pasta that are healthier than the traditional but still delicious! Especially since it’s one of the things my son will eat without complaining!

  31. This healthy alternative pasta sounds like a winner. Will have to look for some at a supermarket near me.

  32. kathy downey says

    Thanks,I am a big fan of chick peas…will love to try this !

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