Sponsored: The Bonus of BEANS
One of my resolutions for 2024 is to try and incorporate more beans into our weekly meals.
This would be canned or dried beans like soy beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, black beans, lima beans etc. which count as both a vegetable and a source of protein. These are very different than peas (more starchy) and green beans (less protein).
Beans are an economical source of protein, carbohydrates, and fiber. You can buy dried beans and soak and then cook them or buy canned beans. (If sodium is a concern, rinse canned beans before preparing.)
People all over the world regularly eat beans.
• in the UK you might enjoy “beans on toast” which are canned beans in a tomato sauce base, heated and spread on toast. This is a very different taste than our typical baked beans that are in pork and molasses flavored sauce.
• in France you might often find white beans in a stew or soup with vegetables.
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• in Germany, a dish of Great Northern or cannellini beans flavored with bacon and onions are the perfect dish for a cold day.
• in India you might have a curry dish with kidney beans over rice.
• in parts of Africa you might be served a bean dish with a tomato base and added fish or crayfish.
• in Greece and other Mediterranean countries hummus, made from chickpeas, is used as a dip.
• in Caribbean countries you might often be served black beans and rice along with fried or roasted plantains with salsa and lime.
How about you? What are some ways that you currently enjoy eating beans?
Leah McGrath, RDN, LDN
Ingles Markets Corporate Dietitian
facebook.com/LeahMcgrathDietitian
800-334-4936
