Here’s a riddle for you:

What is…

black,

white,

and red all over?

Beans, of course!

Beans are a healthful addition to almost any diet, as they boast several valuable nutrition attributes. To name just a few…

Protein: Although they are classified vegetables, a single cup of cooked beans contains up to 16 grams of protein. For this reason, beans are a great choice for those following a plant-based diet—just be sure to consume a few servings of whole grains throughout the day to ensure that your body is getting all the amino acids it needs for optimal health.

Fiber: Increased dietary fiber in the diet provides myriad benefits for the body. As I’ve mentioned before, fiber not only assists in ahem, “regularity” but also in controlling blood glucose levels. In addition, the particular kind of fiber (soluble) found in beans can help lower cholesterol levels and assists in the treatment of liver disease.

Minerals: Bet you never thought of beans as being a source of calcium, eh? Beans provide modest amounts of minerals, including calcium and potassium.

In addition to their nutritional advantages, beans are also very inexpensive and versatile. Here’s a mere sampling of my favorite bean-centric recipes:

Peanut Butter Chili

Roasted Beet Salad with Clementines & White Beans

Sweet Potato-Black bean Salad

Coconut Black Beans with Mango

Pesto Hummus

I think the chickpea is by far my favorite…

Do you cook with beans? Which is your favorite?

Filed under: Recipe Collection