FitSugar reader prepel came up with this inventive twist on socca, by turning the thin chickpea flour pancakes into muffins! She posted the recipe in our Healthy Recipe group. Socca in muffin form! Learn how to make this recipe after the break! Read more

At Nopalito, a Mexican eatery in my neighborhood, every meal starts off with a complimentary bowl of spicy fried chickpeas. This snack is full of heat and crunch and sort of reminds me of spicy wasabi peas or corn nuts. Because I'm addicted to them, I decided that I would try and make a healthier version at home. Like kale chips, roasted chickpeas are a great way to satisfy a chip craving, minus Read more

We're always looking for new healthy snack ideas and we just found a good one from CheesePlease: roasted chickpeas. Try this simply and  addictive healthy snack!  Chickpeas are a great source of protein, folic acid and iron.  Roast your chickpeas with this  garlic-cumin-sea salt recipe, or a delicious honey-cinnamon version.  It's hard to say which one is better.  My advice: Make both Read more

When it comes to meatless Middle Eastern takeout, falafel is a natural favorite. But did you know that chickpea fritters are just as easy — and probably healthier – to make in the comfort of your own home? Begin by processing garbanzo beans with aromatics, herbs, and spices until smooth; then form them into balls, coat with batter, and pan-fry until coating is golden brown and you detect the Read more

Southern vegetable staple okra is everywhere this time of year at Bay Area farmers markets, and it's perfect in everything from Summer skillet stir-fries to soothing, slow-cooked tagines like this one. The key to this tender vegetable braise is lots of patience and a fiery, full-bodied garlic and pepper paste known as harissa. Use it to add layers of savory complexity to this slow-cooked Read more

Sometimes when I want to get crazy with my pasta dishes, I swap out the usual spaghetti or penne for orecchiette — it's one of my favorite pasta shapes. Throw in some nutty broccoli rabe and chickpeas (garbanzo beans), toss in a light, garlicky sauce, and you have a healthy vegetarian dinner that's a cinch to make. For the recipe, keep reading. Read more

For me, September doesn't only mean back-to-school time; it's also back-to-cooking time. For dinner inspiration I am loving Martha Rose Shulman's new cookbook, The Very Best of Recipes For Health. Don't let the word "health" in the title fool you; her recipes are big on flavor and easy to make. Since I'm eating meat-free for the FitSugar Give It Up Challenge, I have been looking to beans for Read more

Kangoo Jumps, Zenergy, and ViPR: new fitness classes to get excited about — Shape Not a fan of spinach? Researchers say it may be an eating disorder — Diet Blog A chickpea salad worth fighting over — Oh She Glows 10 "vices" that are high on health and low on guilt — Health Turn yourself into a runner with these tips — Fit Bottomed Girls Homemade vegan chocolate cake in under five Read more

A hectic start to the week calls for a laid-back Monday night meal that's light on time and fuss. Make it both meatless and stress-free by composing a basic pasta dish from last night's leftover zucchini, as well as pantry items you've already got on hand. Rather than overpowering the mellow flavors of garbanzo beans and zucchini, dress them simply with salt and your favorite olive oil, then Read more