Pasta - it is such a staple food no matter what age or stage in your life you are at. As a little kid, you may have looked forward to a meal of boxed Mac-And-Cheese or your parent's spaghetti. As a teenager or college student, your go-to may be instant ramen made in a mug in the microwave. And now, as an adult, your date-night might consist of the perfect carbonara paired with a glass of wine! But have you ever thought about how healthy those pasta dishes might be?
While all pastas are usually healthy or can be made healthy, some noodles are more nutritious than others! The good news is, the newly trend chickpea pasta is legitimately an excellent choice. There are many different popular brands that offer chickpea pasta, however, those can vary ever so slightly in ingredients, taste, and nutrition. However, these products are a well-balanced and nutritious meal no matter which one you’re making. But how exactly is chickpea pasta healthy?
Can Chickpea Pasta Possibly Be Healthy For You?
Chickpeas themselves are a plant-based super-food that are packed with both protein and fiber - up to 8 grams of each per one 1/2 cup serving. Plus, they’re a sustainable food source along with other pulses like beans, peas, and lentils. Chickpea pasta, compared to traditional wheat-based pasta, has slightly less calories, double the fiber, and up to double the protein, depending on the brand. Also, many versions are naturally gluten-free.
Even more so, it may have some cost-saving benefits, too! This is because you won’t need to buy an extra protein to get dinner on the table. While traditional pasta also provides plant-based protein and fiber, chickpea pastas also have greater amounts of iron and potassium, two key minerals crucial for circulation.
What Is The Nutritional Value of Both Chickpea Pasta and Regular Pasta?
If you are curious about the nutritional value of chickpea pasta, here it is compared to regular pasta:
Regular Chickpea Pasta
Serving Size: 2 ounces
- Calories: 190
- Total Carbs: 34g
- Total Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Iron: 15% DV
- Potassium: 15% DV
Regular Pasta
Serving Size: 2 ounces
- Calories: 200
- Total Carbs: 42g
- Total Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Iron: 10% DV
- Potassium: 2% DV
As you can see, a serving of chickpea pasta has between 30-35 grams total carbs, which is up to 40% less than traditional versions. One cup of cooked wheat-based pasta serving has about 35-45 grams of carbs. The difference depends on the type of pasta and the specific flour blend.
What Are The Health Benefits of Chickpea Pasta?
For those who are looking to lose weight or maintain their weight, chickpea pasta is both tasty and filling and makes for an excellent choice. With regular pasta, our tendency is to wolf it down since it’s not so filled with fiber or protein on its own, but chickpea pasta has more of both. When it also comes to diabetes, compared to traditional pasta, chickpea pasta has a lower-glycemic choice for anyone looking to manage their blood sugar.The combo of protein and fiber found in these little legumes helps slow down digestion, and therefore provides a more stable rise in blood sugar for a post-meal.
Curious about chickpea pasta? Try it out for yourself!
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-Patrick
