Ingredient Deep Dive: Chickpeas
Ingredient deep dive: the chickpea
Intro to Chickpeas & how we use this wonderful pulse crop
Chickpeas are the driving force behind Tally Kids. They are our largest ingredient besides filtered water. It is important that we take a moment to better understand them and the nutritional value they will bring to your child's diet.
I recommend watching Nicole Jolly's TrueFoodTV video above detailing her visit to a chickpea farm in lieu of reading further, because it is immensely informative.
The host, Nicole Jolly, tours a chickpea farm in the United States and shares all there is to know about chickpeas: their farming methods, nutritional profile, cultivation history in human diets, and the future outlook of the crop in the United States. You can see just how dry and dusty the ideal environment is for the chickpea crop to flourish. Which is great for the planet that such a nutrient dense crop is not water intensive.
Chickpeas are mostly grown in India, which produces about 80% of the world's crop. But, as the video shows, chickpea farming is on the rise in the United States as demand for this wonderful plant-based protein is set to skyrocket.
When we formulate our plant-based milk, Tally Kids, we do not simply grind up chickpeas, as you see in the video. Rather, we use Chickpea Protein Isolate - which is 80% pure chickpea protein. The dirt and earthy husks have been washed off and removed to create a cleaner taste for Tally Kids Chickpea Milk.
Chickpeas have been a staple in Mediterranean diets since 5000 BC. It's sort of amazing that they haven't been utilized as a plant-source for plant-based milk yet here in the United States....!
We have been utilizing sources that are either allergenic (Soy) or have little nutrition (Almond, Oat).
Chickpeas are a friendly snack, toasted and salted, you can make toasted chickpeas in the oven. Simply spread them on an aluminum foil baking sheet, drizzle with oil, salt, and bake until toasted to perfection.
When we started Tally Kids, we looked at each other and asked, why hasn't this been done before? To be honest, we still haven't found the answer. It is possible that Soy and Almond rose to dominance because they are majority grown in the United States. Both Soy and Almond have resonated with consumers, leaving little incentive to change or try the chickpea.
But times they are a changin' and we are confident that you will find the chickpea to be just as delicious as almond milk but packed with the nutritional benefits that have since been limited to soy milk.
Tally is excited to bring forward Chickpea Milk for American diets, starting with our kids!
Chickpeas match the nutritional value of soy milk while also matching the same pleasant, slightly sweet, toasted notes of almond milk.
Chickpea Environmental Benefits
Chickpeas require very little water to grow, and very little fertilizer because they pull the nutrients they require (nitrogen) out of the air!
- Chickpeas have a low carbon footprint because they require less nitrogen fertilizers because they create their own fertilization by pulling nitrogen from the air and into the soil.
- As result, chickpeas enrich soil health by leaving behind essential nutrients including nitrogen and beneficial microbes for the next crop cycle.
- Chickpeas also extract water from a shallower depth, leaving more water deep in the soil for other crops, which makes them well-adapted for drought-prone areas.
- In total, chickpeas use just one-tenth of the water of other proteins. For example, it takes only 43 gallons of water to produce 1 lb of pulses compared to 800–1,800 gallons of water to produce 1 lb of animal protein.
Source: The Amazing Chickpea
Chickpea Nutrition
Chickpeas are a nutrient-dense food, providing 20% Daily Value or higher of protein, fiber, folate, and minerals such as iron and phosphorous.
Thiamin, Vitamin B6, magnesium, and zinc contents are moderate, providing 10–16% of daily value.
Chickpeas are rich in essential amino acids such as lysine, isoleucine, tryptophan and total aromatic amino acids.
Biena Toasted Chickpea Snacks
These are great! I was snacking on these toasted chickpea snacks before launching Tally Kids Chickpea Milk. I like them as a travel snack because they provide more satiety than other snacks, meaning they make you feel full longer. I believe this is due to their high fiber content.
Click image to visit Biena Snacks website.
Hummus
Hummus is the Arabic word for chickpeas, which are often cooked and ground into a paste and mixed with tahini (sesame seed paste).
Hummus with Tahini is delicious if you can have it, but Hummus contains sesame seeds which are a Big 9 allergen.
Science-Backed Benefits of Chickpeas
By Brianna Elliott, RD and Rachael Link, MS, RD
Medically reviewed by Sade Meeks, MS, RD, Nutrition
Updated on October 21, 2021
May Keep You Feeling Full (Satiety)
Chickpeas are high in protein and fiber, which may keep you feeling full and reduce your calorie intake at meals.
Rich In Plant Protein
Chickpeas are an excellent source of protein, which may aid weight management and boost bone health. This legume is a great choice for people who don’t eat animal products.
Weight Management
Chickpeas’ fiber and protein content, plus their relatively low calorie density, may help you maintain a healthy weight.
Blood Sugar Regulation
Chickpeas have a low GI and are a great source of fiber and protein — all properties that support healthy blood sugar management.
Digestive Benefits
Chickpeas are high in fiber, which benefits your digestion by supporting bowel movements and increasing the number of healthy bacteria in your gut.
Help Protect Against Certain Chronic Diseases
Chickpeas may help prevent some chronic illnesses, including heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes.
Brain Health
Chickpeas are rich in several nutrients that may support brain health, including choline, magnesium, selenium, and zinc.
Iron
Chickpeas are a good source of iron and may help safeguard against iron deficiency.
Add To Your Diet!
Chickpeas taste great in numerous dishes. They’re the main ingredient in hummus and make a great meat substitute due to their protein content.
Between the health benefits, the low environmental footprint due to their low water and fertilizer requirements, and their great taste....it's a no-brainer why we chose the chickpea to power Tally Kids....We hope that you enjoy the health benefits and taste of Tally Kids Chickpea Milk as much as we enjoy bringing it to your doorstep!
Also in Tally Kids Blog
Chickpeas: A Sustainable Protein Source for Plant-Based Foods
5 Astonishing Benefits of Chickpea Milk
