Say the word beans and you may hear a loud, “ewwww.” Hang out with Paleo dieters and be prepared to enter a discussion on why beans are not an accepted part of their diet. Step into any household that loves beans and expect to see a great big pot where batches are frozen and used later for soups and stews. Also, a household like this will eat beans with any meal of the day. (They taste great with eggs and tortillas!) Take ‘em or leave ‘em, beans are an excellent source of protein and generally good for the waistline.
The Benefits of Beans
- They’re cheap and versatile. As I mentioned, beans can be eaten for any meal of the day, and they’re one of the few truly healthy foods that you can pick up for under a buck–dried or canned! In fact, I just put a scoop of cannellini beans (my favorite bean!) in my superfood salad for lunch. Talk about an energy boost!
- USDA guidelines suggest we triple our bean intake each week! That means we move from 1 to 3 cups.
- They make you feel fuller. While beans are comparable to meat in terms of calories, they are loaded with fiber and water, which will make you feel satisfyingly full.
- They’re low in sugar, staving off hunger for a longer period of time.
- And they’re high in antioxidants. According to WebMD, “in a U.S. Department of Agriculture study, researchers measured the antioxidant capacities of more than 100 common foods. Three types of beans made the top four: small red beans, red kidney beans, and pinto beans. And three others — black beans, navy beans, and black-eyed peas — achieved top-40 status.”
