Food provides us with the nutrients we need to go about our day, of course, but food is also a part of social connection, and can impact our mood and the way we feel. Think back to some of your favorite food-based childhood memories; a standout for some of us here at Thistle is Friday pasta night! Perfectly cooked al dente pasta with rich and tangy sauce always brought everyone to the table. 

Today, various food preferences and dietary restrictions make pasta night a challenge. However, alternative pasta creations, like those crafted by Banza bring those warm and cozy nights back to life! Banza Pasta is a fantastic alternative to wheat-based pastas, and is part of many nourishing Thistle meals. 

About Banza

Banza’s Roots

Banza began in 2014, when company co-founder and CEO Brian Rudolph learned he had a gluten sensitivity. He began tinkering in his kitchen with “healthified” and gluten-free versions of his favorite comfort foods, like pasta. At the time, pasta alternatives were few and far between, and chickpea pasta was certainly not a product featured in supermarkets. 

After much experimentation, Brian was blown away by the product he created in his kitchen – tasty, gluten-free pasta made from chickpeas that looked, cooked and tasted just like the traditional versions he loved! Banza’s other co-founder (and Brian’s brother!) Scott Rudolph came on board and together, the two launched the Banza we know today.

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What Makes Banza Unique

The masterminds behind delicious and nutritious Banza foods are on a mission to get more people to eat more chickpeas, a bean that is healthy for both the environment and the people consuming them. And with an ever-growing and widely available variety of tasty Banza Pasta shapes to choose from – think Penne, Rotini, Rigatoni, Ziti, Gemelli, Spaghetti, Linguine, and more! – the mission is succeeding.

Chickpeas are an ecologically friendly crop: they have a low carbon footprint, require less nitrogen fertilizer than animal proteins, and use a relatively small amount of water for production. It takes 43 gallons of water to produce one pound of pulses – much less than the 800-1,800 gallons required for one pound of animal protein. 

Chickpeas also enrich the soil by leaving behind microbes and nitrogen for the next crops planted. These environmental benefits, in combination with their nutrition benefits, make chickpeas a fantastic choice for both people and the planet. It’s a win-win.

Why Thistle Loves Banza

Traditional wheat-based pasta is usually made with refined flour, which is composed mostly of starch and low in fiber and protein. When consumed, the body rapidly breaks down the starchy carbohydrates into simple sugars. This creates a sharp elevation followed by a sharp decline in blood sugar. 

The fiber and plant protein found in Banza Pasta help prevent blood sugar spikes and crashes. In a typical serving, Banza Spaghetti packs in a whopping 5 grams of fiber and 11 grams of protein! Comparatively, that same serving size of other pasta brands provide less than 2 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein. This numerical difference may seem negligible, but the effect in the body is significant; the larger amounts of fiber and protein slow the release of sugar into the bloodstream, leading to stable blood sugar and energy throughout the day.

From a culinary standpoint, Thistle loves Banza’s foods for their durability. Traditional gluten-free pastas often lose their shape when cooked. Without wheat to provide structural integrity, gluten-free products can easily fall apart. However, Banza products do not fall apart like other gluten-free products and provide a similar texture and mouthfeel to traditional wheat pasta, which makes Thistle pasta meals a perfect solution for gluten intolerant people looking for a pasta fix.

Enjoying Banza Products in Meals

Banza at Home

Excited to start enjoying some Banza products? Banza offerings run the gamut: from Rice, to Pasta varieties including Mac & Cheese, to Pizzas there are lots of fun options to explore at home. If you’re looking for some pasta-based plant-forward comfort food to cook at home, the Recipes + Meal Hacks page on Thistle’s blog features some dishes that fit the bill. Give Plant-Based Mac and Cheese and Pasta Chips with Sun-Dried Tomato “Cheese” Dip a try. 

Banza at Thistle

Thistle also includes Banza Pastas once or twice a week in our menu cycle. You won’t regret adding some of our tasty and nourishing pasta meals to your upcoming deliveries. Thistle fan favorites include: 

• Kale Pesto Pasta Salad
• Green Pesto Bowl
• Thistle Ragu Pasta Bowl
• Mac n' Greens
• Pasta Ceci Aglio e Olio
• Roasted Veggie & Romesco Pasta
• Green Olive Pasta
• Eggplant Puttanesca
• Risotto Verde

Banza’s Future

With their innovative Pasta, Pizza, Mac & Cheese, and Rice products, Banza revolutionized the gluten-free and plant-based food spaces. Looking ahead, Banza is excited to develop alternatives to even more products typically made from refined grains, and to provide other options for individuals looking to boost their nutrition intake and support a healthy environment. 

While gluten-free diets have been gaining in popularity since the early 2000s, gluten-free products have not always been comparable (in terms of taste, texture, or nutrition) to their gluten-containing counterparts. Banza products changed that narrative. Their pasta’s taste, texture and high protein, high fiber content add a delicious and nutritious component to Thistle menu items. 

We encourage you to keep an eye out for Thistle meals featuring Banza products to try them at home.