By Leanne Vogel, founder of Healthful Pursuit.
Lovin’ hemp hearts, but struggling with finding new ways to add them into the food you eat? I have a few healthy ideas that I would love to share with you!
Who loves ways to make eating healthy even more enjoyable? I love finding new ways to feel good about what I eat, and Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts play a large role in that. If you love to try new healthy things or have trouble finding a good oats substitute, you have definitely come to the right spot!
You may wonder what the big deal is with hemp hearts, so let me tell you a few of the reasons why they are so awesome and why I add them to so many of my meals. The first reason would be their sheer versatility. You can use them in practically every meal, and they are great for snacks and even for satisfying that little sweet tooth you may have. Hemp hearts are very similar to oats, so you can use them in basically the same types of recipes you would normally use oats for.
Another reason I am a big hemp hearts fan is they pack a TON of protein and healthy omega fats into each scoop. They have twice as much protein as flax and chia, and they only have a third or less of the carbs. That’s a win in my book!
Already a fan or just curious? Here are my 10 favourite ways to add more hemp hearts to my low-carb meals. I just cannot seem to get enough! If you have more great hemp heart ideas, please share so we can all enjoy.
TOP 10 FAVOURITE HEMP HEART IDEAS
BREAKFAST!
Let’s start off with breakfast… sound good? Wait until you see what you can do with hemp hearts to help get your day started with your absolutely best foot forward.
1. Keto Grain-Free Hemp Heart Porridge
One of my favourite ways to add more hemp hearts to my meals is in a good low-carb grain-free porridge! Lots of people substitute grains with quinoa when it comes to porridges, but that’s a no-go for my body. So I experimented a little and found that hemp heart porridge is where it’s at!
2. Yogurt Topping
Yogurt topped with hemp hearts instead of nuts is another great option, especially for a quick grab-and-go kind of morning (this may happen more often than not for some). If you are interested in making your own keto dairy-free yogurt, here’s a recipe for homemade coconut yogurt that would be great topped with hemp hearts.
3. Smoothies
Smoothies are a great morning to-go meal or snack, and you can either add hemp hearts before blending or add them on top (or both). And smoothies are extremely customizable, so every morning could be a new adventure, or if you like to stick to a reliable option, hemp hearts make any smoothie even better.
LUNCH!
Now let’s move on to lunch recipes… that great meal that happens in the middle of the day that can be the determining factor in how productive you are for the rest of the day. Decisions, decisions… rest assured that these lunch options are all tried and true.
4. Salad Toppings
Salads are awesome, but they can be even more amazing if you throw in some hemp hearts! Hemp hearts are a great low-carb topping that can be a substitute for croutons or even parmesan in a Caesar salad.
Like a little flair to your lunch? This is another salad recipe with a little Middle Eastern twist, and your taste buds will thank you for it.
DINNER!
A great way to finish the day is to end it with a great meal. One way to do that is to add a little boost of nutrition and protein with hemp hearts, so here are a few tips on how to add them to your favorite meals...
6. Sauces
Hemp hearts can basically be mixed into almost anything, including sauces. This is especially perfect for pasta dishes! Nothing like a good pasta dish that is delicious and good for your body!
7. Mashed Cauliflower
Mashed cauliflower is definitely a popular low-carb side dish, so adding even more protein and omega fats is a great way to make a keto dinner even better. Win for everyone!
SNACKS!
And I think everyone can say that snacks are a great way to make a day just a little brighter, especially if said snacks are absolutely delicious and make your body feel great. Adding hemp hearts to these snacks are definitely some of my favourite ways to get the nutrition I need.
8. Avocados
Here’s a simple snack: just slice an avocado, sprinkle some hemp hearts on top and drizzle with olive oil. Yum!
9. Bring on the chocolate! One of my all time favourite hemp heart recipes, smooth and delicious due to the soaked hemp hearts and chocolatey goodness. These are perfect for keeping around the office or house to snack on throughout the day.
10. Chocolate Hemp Runners Repair Bars
Going for a run? Before you do, I’d grab one of these because they are a great alternative to store bought energy bars (they’ll also probably save you some money). Very easy to take along wherever your travels take you, whether it’s for a run around the neighborhood, to the gym, or for a road trip. Now go get ‘em!
Bonus! Vanilla Nut Hemp Milk
Sometimes a nice glass of milk just hits the spot, and this vanilla nut hemp milk is a great dairy-free option! Very nice with some cookies…
Ready to try some of these hemp heart recipes out? Or maybe you are feeling a little more adventurous and want to create your own! Either way, let us all know in the comments how it goes so we can all be healthfully inspired!
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Written by Leanne Vogel. Leanne is the founder of Healthful Pursuit, best-selling author of over 11 health programs, host of The Keto Diet Podcast, author of the International Bestselling Book, The Keto Diet, and the creator of Fat Fueled living - a holistic, paleo- friendly approach to a ketogenic, high-fat diet. She has been in the field of nutrition since receiving her holistic nutrition certification in 2007. Leanne shares free videos, podcasts, recipes and keto-friendly resources on her blog, Healthful Pursuit.