According to some, the chickpea has been around for some 7,500 years! Because the chick pea is from the legume family, it is a wonderful high fiber and protein source to build lunches and snacks around. And kids love them!
Chickpea fun fact: You may also hear the chickpea called by other names: garbanzo bean, Indian pea, ceci bean, bengal gram, kabuli chanan, konda kadalai, sanaga pappu, and shimbra!
Chickpeas can be used with toddlers over the age of three (see caution statement below). Carefully supervise and peel outer skins from chickpeas.
Crunch-crunch (Roasted chickpeas)
- 2 - 15 oz. cans of chickpeas
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon sea salt (or desired taste)
Optional spices can be added, such as cumin (experiment for added flavors).
Heat oven to 400. Rinse chickpeas well with cold water and pat dry. Toss in a medium sized bowl with olive oil; coat well. Spread onto a baking sheet and bake for 30-40 minutes. Using a hot pad, stir or shake baking pan every ten minutes to avoid burning. After baking 30-40 minutes, sprinkle chickpeas with salt and/or spices and bake another 5-10 minutes. Let cool and serve for a crunchy, yummy snack!
Chick dip (Hummus)
- 2 - 15 oz cans chickpeas
- ¼ cup tahini (sesame paste)
- ½ cup olive oil
- 2-3 peeled garlic cloves
- 2-3 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ - ½ teaspoon salt & pepper
For bolder flavors, add cumin, hot sauce, paprika, or other flavors of choice.
Blend all ingredients in a blender. Children can mix by hand before adding to blender. Serve with pita chips, vegetables, crackers, or pita style breads.
Libba's easy chickpea pasta
- 1 - 15oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 1 - 15oz. can diced tomatoes in spices (or 2-3 fresh-cut tomatoes)
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1-2 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ cup parmesan or feta cheese (with extra for sprinkling)
- 1 box pasta (cooked as directed)
- salt and pepper to taste
Optional: add 1 cup chicken broth for a brothier version.
Heat olive oil in medium large sized pan. Add chickpeas and tomatoes and saute for 5 minutes. Add lemon juice, parmesan cheese, and any desired spices. Serve over cooked pasta.
Libba's tip: Save money and buy dry beans which are less expensive. Soak and prepare according to package directions.
Tangy and sweet chickpea salad
Try topping with Roasted Chickpeas (see recipe above) for extra punch and crunch.
Salad:
- 1 - 15 oz. can chickpeas
- 2-3 celery stalks, chopped
- 1-2 crisp, tart, apples, peeled, seeded, and chunked
- 1 bag mixed salad greens or 3 cups chopped lettuce
Dressing:
- ¼ cup mayonnaise style salad dressing
- 1tablespoon honey
- 1-2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoon milk
- salt & pepper to preferred taste
Optional ingredients: nuts, raisins, grapes, and onion
Directions:
In a medium sized bowl, mix chickpeas, celery, chopped apples, and lettuce together and any optional ingredients. For the dressing, mix salad dressing, honey, lemon juice, and milk together. Toss with salad.
Dietary cautions
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Be aware of choking risks and food allergies when preparing and serving meals and snacks. Think about the size, shape, and consistency when choosing foods due to the potential choking risks in children. Food cut in large chunks, small hard foods, and soft and sticky foods should be avoided. The top choking hazards for children include: hotdogs, meats, sausages, fish with bones, spoonfuls of peanut butter, popcorn, chips, pretzel nuggets, raisins, whole grapes, raw carrots, fruits and vegetables with skins, and marshmallows. Be sure that food is cut in small pieces (no larger than ½ inch), grated, or finely chopped. Be sure that children are closely supervised when they are eating.
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Do not give honey to children under 12 months of age. Honey contains spores that can cause infant botulism.
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Many children have food allergies or sensitivities to food. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 90% of children's food allergies are from milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (pecan/walnuts), fish, shellfish, strawberries, soy, wheat, and gluten. Carefully read food labels for potential risks and be sure to ask the parents if children have a known allergy or sensitivity.
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Dental health is a growing concern with young children, so it is important to keep in mind that starchy, sticky, and sugary foods can cause tooth decay. Children should brush their teeth after any meal or snack, but particularly when you serve these foods.
Lunches & Snacks 12-1
