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Now that Winter is basically gone, and we are well into Spring with Summer peaking it's head right around the corner.. it's time to start changing up our meals to healthier, lighter, but still delicious bowls of goodness that cool us down and freshen us up!

Enter hearty kidney bean chickpea pasta salad.

Served cold to beat the heat and loaded with good-for-you ingredients such as tomatoes, onions, parsley, olives, walnuts, and PULSES!

What are pulses?

Perhaps you're a little perplexed by the terminology, but don't be.. I am almost certain that you *have* had pulses before..

Pulses is the term given to the 'dry, edible seeds of plants in the legume family, which includes chickpeas, lentils, dry peas, and beans'.

See? You've been eating pulses all along without even knowing it!

 

Benefits of pulses:

Not only are pulses delicious but they also have a ton of benefits. For one, pulses are protein-packed which makes it a great choice for vegans or those on a plant-based diet..

They are also a great source of fiber, which every person can benefit from, especially in America where it is believed that as much as 90% of the people don't get enough fiber! Adding pulses to your diet can definitely help this statistic - and your health!

As far as affordability comes in hand, pulses again, are one of the most affordable proteins out there. No need to waste money on expensive protein powders and shakes when you can get the nutrition from beans, lentils, chickpeas, or dry peas!

 

different varieties of pulses:

You can eat pulses every day and not get tired of them for weeks.. that's because pulses have SO much variety!

Chickpeas, lentils, beans and dry peas can be broken down even further to different types of chickpeas, lentils, beans, and dry peas...

There are 14 different types of beans, 5 different types of lentils, and 4 different varieties of peas that you can get creative with in the kitchen!

And now you can even find pasta and flours made out of pulses! For example - the pasta we are using in today's recipe is made with chickpea flour! These flours can also be used for baking and making things like cookies, pancakes, and breads.

For more recipes with pulses check out the pulse.org website and click on the recipe tab.

If you want more information about the different varieties of pulses you can check out this page that USA Pulses & Pulse Canada have set up on their website.

Sustainability and environmental impact: 

The movement towards more sustainable food practices is growing. As a vegan myself I am mindful of the food choices I make and how they impact the environment and the planet.

Another great benefit of pulses is their sustainability. They have a low carbon foot print, are water efficient, drought tolerant and also have the ability to convert nitrogen in the air into a plant-nutrient!

 

so how much should i eat?

Now that you know the tremendous benefits of pulses I bet you're excited to start adding all sorts of chickpeas, beans, lentils, and dry peas into your diet.

And the best part is - it's super easy to do.

The USDA recommends a weekly serving of 1 1/2 cups of pulses a week as part of a healthy eating pattern..

All you need is 1/2 cup of pulses, three times a week, to enjoy the many benefits of this superfood!

As a matter of fact, a Canadian study found that consuming just 1/2 cup of cooked pulses per day was associated with higher nutrient intakes of fiber, protein, folate, magnesium, iron, potassium, and zinc!!! All of this from only 1/2 cup!

And I don't know about you but pulses are one of my favorite favorite things to eat, blame it on my Cuban heritage, but consuming 1/2 cup of pulses is not hard at all for me to do. 😛

 

Join the Half-Cup Habit:

The awesome people over at USA Pulses & Pulse Canada have created the Half-Cup Habit to encourage everyone to get more pulses in their diet...

And by signing up over on their website (it's free) you'll get:

• quick and healthy seasonal recipes delivered right to your inbox - recipes filled with PULSES!
• easy prep tips to make your life easier
• a digital cook book
• and you'll be entered for a chance to win weekly random prizes throughout this campaign.

So what do you say? Are you ready to make a commitment to better health and consume at least 1/2 cup of pulses, three times a week?

Because that's all it takes!

 

Kidney bean chickpea pasta salad loaded with pulses

So now that you know about pulses, let's get back to the salad for a second.

This pasta salad is the perfect way to get started in the half-cup habit because each serving has over 1/2 cup of pulses! Plus, there's tomatoes, red onions, parsley, and a few other delicious ingredients thrown into the mix.

Since the theme is 'pulses' I didn't use regular pasta, instead I used pasta shells that are made out of chickpea flour. You can find this at your local Whole Foods, natural food store, or online on Amazon.com.

 

enjoy this salad with friends and family 

When I think of spring and summer I automatically envision potlucks, picnic, and parties...

This Kidney bean chickpea pasta salad is perfect for any of the above.

Share with friends and family and let them know that not only are they enjoying a delicious tasty salad, but also, the many benefits of pulses!

 

click on image to pin

 

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