Why Hemp Seeds Should be a Staple in Your Pantry

A big part of eating well regularly is being well stocked with wholesome, nutrient-dense foods in your own kitchen. When you have good choices available and on hand, you will likely benefit.

If you’ve ever been to one of my cooking classes, or have read any of my previous blogs, I regularly speak to eat a mix of protein + fiber + healthy fat at all meals and snacks. This helps keep blood sugar levels stable, wards off cravings, and helps to prevent overeating.

I love all nuts and seeds, as they are rich sources of protein, fiber, and healthy fats – but hemp, in particular, is one of my favorites.

First off, yes, hemp is a variety of a cannabis plant, but no, it won’t get you (or your family) high; it’s completely legal, safe, and very healthy to consume regularly. A few years ago, they were definitely on the hippie/crunchy granola fringe, but they’ve totally made their way to the mainstream and are easy to find at most grocery stores. A lot of times you’ll see them called ‘hemp hearts’ – which is the same thing.

Why should I be eating them?

Hempseeds can be beneficial for digestion, heart health, weight loss, and even may help with your appearance (hair, skin + nails). They contain a great balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and is also incredibly iron rich. Hemp seeds a rich source of GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) which is important for hormonal balance.

I particularly love hemps seeds for being a green (look closely at the tiny seeds and you’ll see the hue), alkaline, complete protein that is easily accessible to the body (meaning easy to absorb nutrition – some plant-based protein sources can be tricky).

2 tablespoons of hemp seeds contain:

80 calories, 5 grams of cabohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, and over 10 grams of protein – and about 26% of your daily iron requirements.

How do hemp seeds taste?

I find hemp seeds to have a mild, kind of ‘nutty’ taste – in other words, they’re pretty neutral. Because of this, they’re easy to integrate into (almost) anything without affecting the flavor. You won’t find the chalky, off-putting flavor of a lot of protein supplements have, which is why hemp seeds are my favorite recommendation for vegetarians, vegans, and omnivores alike to increase protein intake.

I bought hemp seeds. Now what?

Go crazy!

But seriously, store them in an airtight container in your pantry or refrigerator in a place that is easy to access. When you have them readily available, you’re more likely to add them to your food. A good place to start is by adding them to breakfast. Sprinkle a few tablespoons on oatmeal, yogurt, granola, cereal, smoothies, and the like. I’ve even adding to pancake or waffle batter. I also regularly add to salads for an easy nutrition boost.

For the more advanced type, hemp seeds are also great to use in sauces (like pesto), salad dressings, and to make seed milk with.

Here are a few of my favorite simple, hemp-centric recipes to check out:

++ Superfood kale salad
++ Vanilla date ‘yogurt’
++ Pumpkin-spice chia + hemp bowl

Looking for more plant-based protein inspiration? Join me at my Protein Power: Plant-Based Recipes to Fuel Your Day cooking class on March 14.

What are your favorite ways to consume hemp seeds? Share in the comments.