Hummus.

One of my favorite foods in the entire world is hummus. It is so nutritious in the right serving amount and provides protein for my vegetarian self! In losing weight, I have found that the most effective way to eat hummus is to add to it. If you look at the nutrition facts for hummus, most brands average about 80 calories per 2 tablespoons. Although this is fair considering the amount of protein, I like to spice up my hummus a bit to speed up my metabolism.

Select your hummus. My go to kind is the Sabra brand roasted garlic hummus.

Add ins:

1. GARLIC

Not only is garlic delicious, but it is so good for speeding up your metabolism. It also has pretty much zero calories so you add as much as you want, which will add flavor and make you feel like you're eating something really unhealthy.

2. Red Bell Peppers

Peppers are always wonderful additions to most savory dishes, and I absolutely love it for hummus. Just cut up a few pieces and throw it in to your hummus for some crunch. Red bell peppers also have tons of vitamin C and are great for weight loss.

3. FLAX SEED

This may seem strange for hummus, however ground dark brown flax seed is a great addition for hummus because it adds substance and makes you feel full faster. It is also a super food, helping a ton for weight loss. My recommendation is to buy flax whole and then blend it yourself right before you use it for the most nutrition out of it.

If you use these or other add ins for hummus, you will feel full faster, get an extra boost of nutrition from your hummus serving, and you will get more servings out of your hummus (which is a great tip for saving money!).

Extra, Extra!!

I recently found another type of hummus that is divine! It is edamame hummus. Who would have thought that the baby soy bean, packed with vitamins and protein could make such a great hummus? Well it does! It also has about the same calorie count as regular hummus.

Don't forget the crackers!

I think one of the biggest questions surrounding eating hummus healthily is what to eat it with. Since hummus has a dip consistency, it needs something crunchy to go with. Veggies are always a wonderful choice. However, if you like to eat crackers with your hummus, I have found that lentil crackers are the best. They provide protein without all the calories. Also, only eat a handful at a time and they will last for quite a while. A box of lentil crackers to eat with my hummus every day will usually last about a week.

Have some hummus and enjoy your day!