It is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we cannot think of a better recipe to share than this pink-colored Beet Hummus recipe. This is a vibrant play on classic hummus that’s easily made by putting all the ingredients into a food processor. Not only is the color truly captivating and will look great for any party spread, it is also packed with nutritious, plant-based ingredients. With about a 1/3 cup serving used as a dip for vegetables, you get only about 200 calories, but also 6 grams of protein, 5g of fiber, essential fats, and many vitamins and minerals. Talk about a well-rounded snack. Healthy sure is beautiful!

Ingredients:

• 1 large beet (or 2 small), peeled
• 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 cup tahini
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced (about 2 Tbsp of lemon juice)
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• Optional toppings: za’tar seasoning, lemon zest, nuts,large salt flakes, chopped herbs (parsley, basil, oregano), sesame seeds, or
  swirls of olive oil are great ideas!
  

Instructions:

1. Peel the beets and put into a baking dish with ¼ inch of water at the bottom. Cover with foil and bake in the oven at 400 degrees for about 1 hour. A fork should be able to slide right through. Let cool and cut into quarters.
2. Combine the cooked beets, chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, 1 tsp lemon zest, garlic, cumin, and salt in a food processor. While blending, slowly drizzle in the olive oil to combine. Blend until smooth.
3. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired. You may prefer more lemon, garlic, or salt.
4. Sprinkle on your desired toppings and serve. The hummus will keep in the fridge for 1 week or in the freezer for 3 months.

Nutritional Information:

• Calories: ~1381
• Carbs: 82g
• Fiber: 19g
• Sugar: 8g
• Protein: 38g

Be sure to check in with your health this month to reduce your risk for breast cancer by living a healthy lifestyle. Here are a few questions to ask yourself to reduce your risk for breast cancer:

• Do you drink alcohol? Recommendations are to not drink at all, but if you do, to limit your
  consumption.
  
• Do you eat a nutrient rich diet? A plant-based diet full of whole grains, a variety of fruits and
  vegetables, legumes, and healthy fats (nuts, vegetable oils, and fatty fish) is
  recommended.
  
• Are you at a healthy weight? Being overweight causes increased inflammation and certain hormone
  circulation that may increase your cancer risk.
  
• Are you physically active? Exercising for 30 minutes most days of the week can decrease your risk.
  
• Are you overly stressed? Dealing with emotional or physical stressors in a healthy
  way is key to reducing physical signs of inflammation. Support is important!