Hummus is a Middle Eastern dip that is taking America by storm. According to the U.S. food retailers report, what used to be a -million dollar business a little more than a decade ago, has now blossomed into a 0-million hummus industry. There’s a pretty good reason for. First, it has a creamy texture and an addictively delicious taste. Second, hummus is a nutritional powerhouse.
This simple dip made from chickpeas, olive oil, tahini, lemon juice and salt packs a whole lot of punch, pair it with warm pita or other flatbread and you’ve got a winner. Not a big hummus fan? Well, here are some pretty good reasons to start picking up a hummus habit.
1. It lowers cholesterol and reduces heart disease. Chickpeas, the main ingredient of hummus, has a very high fiber content. Compared to other sources, chickpeas contains about a third of soluble fiber that lowers LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. Chickpeas are also rich in Omega-3 fatty acids namely polyunsaturated fatty acids and alpha-linoleic acids, known to be good for the heart. In addition to the chickpeas, the olive oil in hummus is also rich in monounsaturated fats that reduces artery-clogging lipids in the blood. Including hummus in your daily diet can significantly lower cholesterol levels and reduce cardiovascular risks.
2. It is a cancer-fighting super food. The insoluble fibers found in chickpeas provide extra amounts of energy to colon cells, keeping them strong, active and healthy. This means lower risk of colon problems, including colon cancer. Meanwhile, olive oil is also rich in anti-oxidant polyphenols and lipid oleic acids known to reduce inflammation and fight certain cancers.
3. It promotes weight management and busts belly fat. Hummus is rich in protein, stomach-filling fiber and slow digesting carbohydrates. That means when you snack on hummus, you stay fuller and more satisfied for longer periods. The protein and good fat in hummus gives a good energy boost, increases the body’s fat burning potential, helps curb cravings and even balances blood sugar levels.
Hummus is indeed a great addition to your diet, however it is also important to remember to watch your portions and be careful what you pair it with. Whole wheat pita, flat breads and raw veggies are excellent choices, crispy bacon, not so much. Enjoy other hummus varieties like sundried tomato or basil hummus, if you are buying from a store, make sure you get the ones with extra virgin olive oil or fat-free yogurt.
More and more people across America and other countries are opting for Middle Eastern meals on their plates. The eclectic ingredients and vegetable-based specialties in Middle Eastern Food can help people combat obesity, build protein from non-meat sources like beans and fit more nutritionally-dense foods into a healthy diet.
Here at Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant in San Diego, California, we understand a healthy lunch is the cornerstone of a healthy workday. Our menu includes delicious and light sandwiches, salads, pizza, rice plates, kebabs and half-dozen orders of such delicacies as grape leaves as perfect mid-day meal choices. Trust us. You need a healthy lunch. Here are three reasons why.
Boost Team Motivation and Morale
We understand Corporate Catering is a must for today’s high-powered offices. Too many employees skip lunch under high workloads and tight deadlines. One way to win over your team and look out for their health too is to order in lunch from time to time.
To get your team through a power meeting or conduct a working lunch with clients in your San Diego offices, our Catering plans provide energy-boosting foods at an affordable cost. We make it convenient for you to estimate your needs ahead of time to make sure everyone is served. You can order for employees and clients by the piece or the tray.
Catch Up or Get Ahead on Nutrition
We get it. Mornings can be hectic and rushed. After all, kids must get to school. Parents often sacrifice their own breakfasts to make sure their children eat well before school. Sometimes, you need to hit the snooze button twice. Maybe you had every intention to skip the coffee and doughnut on the way to the office, but you left your fruit at home or a traffic jam thwarted your plans to stop for something nutritious.
By lunchtime you need a pick-me-up. Vegetarian Food and Vegan Food are light but nutritionally-dense midday choices that can compensate for any poor choices you may have made earlier. Noshing on falafel, baba ghanouj, spinach pies and dolma is not only tasty. It sets the tone to reinforce a healthy eating choice again at dinner.
Eat Less At Night
Now that people more recognize the benefits of Middle Eastern Food and have pushed the cuisine into a renaissance of sorts, we take pride in delivering delicious food to people who are passionate about their health. We would love to see you for a full entree at dinnertime, unless you have enjoyed a robust lunch with us at midday.
Yes, that is right. Eating a healthy lunch is often all people need to cut back on a big dinner or late-night eating. You may be surprised at just how much a healthy lunch can tame your evening appetite. You will begin to wake up feeling lighter and more energetic in no time.
With another holiday season quickly arriving, you are likely looking forward to throwing your employees a great holiday party. Choosing the right cuisine for corporate catering can feel overwhelming because you want to please everyone, but every person has different food preferences, and some may have strict dietary restrictions. Serving healthy Middle Eastern food from Aladdin Cafe at your holiday party can help you please everyone. They have a very extensive menu, so read on to get some ideas on which menu options will help you have something on hand that people on even the strictest diets can eat and enjoy.
Vegetarian Food
Many people today are vegetarians, and most vegetarians will not eat meat, but will eat other animal products, such as dairy and eggs.
Aladdin Cafe offers numerous vegetarian dishes, including appetizers, finger foods, main entrees, and desserts.
Your vegetarian employees will love Alladin Cafe’s fresh hummus and pita bread, Vegi Dolma, Babba Ghanouj, and many other appetizer options that contain no meat, yet taste amazing.
Several of Alladin Cafe’s Wood-fired Pizzas are meat-free, yet adorned with delicious spices and vegetables, and they make great main entrees for your vegetarian employees.
Vegan Food
Vegans eat no animal products at all, so along with skipping meat, they also don’t eat dairy products or eggs. All of the dishes already mentioned that are great for vegetarians other than the wood-fired pizzas that are topped with cheese are also free of dairy and eggs, so they will also please your vegan employees.
A great main dish to offer your vegan employees is Fata Bathenjan, which consists of layers of pita bread and delicious eggplant. Veggie Beryani is another great vegan option.
Gluten-Free Food
Many of the tasty appetizer dips offered at Alladin Cafe are gluten-free. While those following a gluten-free diet will have to pass on the pita bread, they can the dips with fresh vegetables instead, such as baby carrots.
Food for Those Following Healthy Diets
Most people today want to eat delicious, healthy foods, and Mediterranean food is one of the healthiest cuisines in the world. If you have a corporate wellness policy in place, then offering healthy food to your employees during your holiday party will also help them meet their health goals that come with great incentives.
Which Mediterranean food options at Alladin Cafe are healthy? All of them! Unlike some healthy foods that force people to choose between their health and pleasing their taste-buds, Mediterranean food is healthy and delicious.
Serving your employees healthy Mediterranean food at any catered event is a great option, including your corporate holiday party. Forget the boring turkey, mashed potatoes, and gravy that your employees may already be eating plenty of at home this holiday season. There are fresh, healthy Mediterranean foods that can fit into every employee’s unique diet deliciously you can serve them instead.