Continuing on my health kick (post holiday cleanse) I'm trying to incorporate more vegetables into my daily diet. It seems so easy to get my daily allotment of fruit (berries in oatmeal for breakfast, apple for a snack) but vegetables seem more difficult to work in.

Jacobs and I love hummus and lucky for us, it's super healthy. The primary ingredient in hummus is chickpeas, which are more popularly known as garbanzo beans. Chickpeas are high-protein legumes that do not contain any cholesterol or saturated fat. They are rich in protein and fiber and are effective in preventing the build up of cholesterol. Add in tahini (high in protein), olive oil (high monounsaturated fat), lemon juice and garlic (filled with antioxidants) and you've got a really satisfying dip that tastes incredible. Serve with veggies and you're well on your way to achieving that 5 servings of veggies a-day goal.

This is a really basic traditional hummus recipe. You can add in sundried tomatoes, caramelized onions or roasted garlic to change it up. To get started, drain canned chickpeas and reserve the liquid. Pulse garlic, chickpeas, tahini and lemon juice in a food processor.

Add in some of the chickpea liquid, olive oil and spices (smoked paprika and cayenne pepper) and pulse until coarsely pureed.

Here's the detailed recipe:

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