Keto Grounded

Before I was pregnant, I ate a super clean diet.  I didn’t stick to any fads like Keto or Atkins, but I made smart choices and worked out every day.  When I found out I was pregnant, I went ham.  I ate all the carbs I had been depriving myself of my entire life, because hey! I was eating for two and why deprive the baby of pizza and pasta?

Fast forward to month 7 and I took the glucose test every woman who has carried a baby dreads.  I failed miserably.  I was so surprised.  It was the one test I was not worried about because I was surprisingly not eating any sugar or even craving it.  Then it hit me… carbs turn into sugar, dummy!  That test scared the bejesus out of me and I decided to turn my pregnancy around and eat much cleaner - for the baby’s sake and mine. Thankfully, the follow-up test came back with much better results.

I went towards the Keto diet because as I was Googling “low sugar and carb snacks” a lot of Keto options popped up.  One thing that got my attention was the Carrington Farms Ground Lupin Bean.  I’ve heard of quinoa and am actually a fan, but apparently this stuff has way more protein than quinoa and only 1 gram net carb.  I was desperate for healthy options, so I decided to give it a chance.

I’m so glad I tried it, because I really loved the taste and texture!  The thing I love most about the Ground Lupin is that it’s ready in 3 minutes.  I can barely stand long enough to prep a meal, so this was calling my name.  

You can either put it in the microwave with a half cup of water, or if you’re anti-microwave like me, you can make it over the stove.  Four tablespoons of Ground Lupin Bean to 1 cup of water.  Boil 3 minutes and strain.  It’s so easy, even I couldn’t mess it up. 

I also love that you can add the Ground Lupin to other recipes like high protein meatballs, cheesy spinach and ground lupin stuffed mushrooms, and even lupin brownies.  

If you’re like me and have no clue what Ground Lupin even is, have no fear because I’ve done my research.  It basically comes from the same family as chickpeas and lentils - no wonder I love it.  It’s an Australian grown legume and can be served like rice or couscous.  I’m not a rice fan and it has a lot of carbs, so this is such a perfect alternative. 

With everything going on in 2020, the makers of Ground Lupin Bean are doing what they can to help out.  The Carrington Company created Carrington Cares to help strengthen local communities and those overseas.  They bring food to local homeless shelters and food banks and help factories overseas after natural disasters.  Carrington Cares also developed a lunch program where they provide meals for children in the Philippines.  Their goal for 2020 is to provide at least 250,000 meals to school kids in the Philippines.  They even built a library for a school in need.  Carrington Cares also gets their staff involved.  Each month, they donate to a different charitable organization presented by its staff.  Some of the non-profits include Lupus Foundation of America, Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation, Table to Table, and Center for Food Action. 

With high protein, more dietary fibers than oats, non-GMO, and 1g net carbs, Ground Lupin Bean has been my go-to side dish or quick meal.  I’m happy to say, I lost some pounds and am back on track for a healthy weight gain for the baby.  Thanks, Lupin!

“In life, much like in smoothies, you get out what you put in!”