Protein and Fiber and Taste, oh my!

I love Whole Foods.  I do not love some of the Whole Foods price tags.  Don’t get me wrong, they have quality ingredients and I do believe that you get what you pay for.  At Whole Foods, you pay more, but you also get greater quality.

Last week, I bought a container of bean dip (about 12 oz, the size of a small hummus container).  Ingredient list looked good, and no wheat or dairy.  Price tag: $3.99.  Ok, I was willing to pay $3.99 for a few great afternoons of snacking.  At the end of the container (which was gone very quickly, by the way), I said “Wait a minute.  I could MAKE this.”  So I did.

I went back to Whole Foods and bought a can of black beans (about $1), a can of chickpeas (about $1), a lime ($.50), and a small jar of roasted red peppers ($2.99).  I knew that I had the necessary spices at home.  My total was $5.50.  So, more than the container of black bean dip, but it made more than 3 times as much!  I couldn’t believe how much it made.  It was so delicious that I taste-tested it with a teaspoon and then switched to a table spoon.  It was THAT good.  Here is the recipe.

Not only was the price tag on my bean dip wallet friendly, but its ingredients are full of protein, fiber, and taste.  Black beans and chickpeas are loaded with protein and fiber, which are instrumental in weight loss.  They have that magic ability to make us feel full.  And the spices add the taste kick that the sometimes-bland beans need.  Now, when I eat my new favorite afternoon snack with wheat free crackers, I am not afraid that I won’t be full in a few hours, I am afraid that I won’t be able to put down the spoon!