Many claim that all plant protein is incomplete. However, the lowly chickpea has complete protein, plenty of fiber, plus many staples of a good diet.
Chickpeas boast an impressive nutritional profile.
They contain a moderate number of calories, providing 269 per cup (164 grams). Approximately 67% of these calories come from carbs, while the rest comes from protein and fat (
Chickpeas also provide a variety of vitamins and minerals, as well as a decent amount of fiber and protein. A 1-cup (164-gram) serving of cooked chickpeas offers (
- Calories: 269
- Protein: 14.5 grams
- Fat: 4 grams
- Carbs: 45 grams
- Fiber: 12.5 grams
- Manganese: 74% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Folate (vitamin B9): 71% of the DV
- Copper: 64% of the DV
- Iron: 26% of the DV
- Zinc: 23% of the DV
- Phosphorus: 22% of the DV
- Magnesium: 19% of the DV
- Thiamine: 16% of the DV
- Vitamin B6: 13% of the DV
- Selenium: 11% of the DV
- Potassium: 10% of the DV
A can of WM chickpeas is $1.25. A common expression in the old days was - "Not worth a can of beans" - because beans were cheap, and still are.
The other nutritional shock is - our bodies put together and enhance the total package of food we eat. God makes us tire of one food, so a mixture of various foods will heal, satisfy, and prevent. This takes place in the mouth, stomach, and intestines.
Bad food often creates a bad gut. For instance, one cigarette is not going to do much damage, but a steady routine over time will accumulate the effects of nicotine (an insecticide) and other chemicals not from plants or animals.
Food and drink affect our moods, so we can obtain healthy energy from the wealth of nutrition in plants, the low cost of water, the Vitamin D3 of sunlight.
We did basic labor in the backyard gardens. The two gardens close to the house were deprived of their weeds and covered with wood and leaf mulch. Leaves are never raked up, bagged, and sent away. We ask for leaves from various neighbors. To reduce long-term labor I put in Joe Pye, which will dominate the sun and attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.
But lo, what is also coming up in the backyard gardens? Poke Weed! the most generous bird-feeder plant of all - attracting over 60 species of birds and many beneficial insects.
The Poke will have to wedge in among the Joe Pye. The shading provided by both should make intruding plants at the ground level a bit humbler.
That is also the way God works through the Means of Grace, an infinite variety of heavenly treasures from the Visible Word of the Sacraments and the invisible Word of teaching and preaching.
