Beans, beans, the musical fruit.
The more you eat, the more you toot.
The more you toot, the better you feel,
Beans, beans, beans…
Beans ARE a magical – and musical – fruit! They are a nutrition powerhouse packed with fiber, protein and lots of great nutrients while being relatively low in fat.
Bean plants are also environmental powerhouses. They are in the legume family which fixes nitrogen in the soil and improves the sustainability of farms that grow annual crops.
But, I digress. There is no question beans are part of a healthy diet, but the question we get asked most frequently is…are they a protein or a smart carb?
(drumroll, please)
They are BOTH. We include beans and legumes in both categories and how you count or measure them depends on what the rest of your diet is like.
If your diet is mostly plant-based or vegan, then beans and legumes (including soy) are likely the most protein-dense foods you eat, so count them as your protein.
If you have meat at most or all your meals, that would be the most protein-dense food, so legumes on your plate would count as a smart carb. Even if you have the occasional meal without meat, I’d still count it as a carb when considering your overall daily nutrition.
One portion of healthy carbs = one cupped handful = approximately ½ cup
Beans and legumes are an important part of a healthy diet. They are nutritious, tasty, versatile, sustainable, AND affordable. Plus, they can help you maintain a healthy weight. If that isn’t magic, what is?
If you want to learn more about beans and legumes and how to incorporate them into your diet, visit https://pulses.org/nap/half-cup-habit/. They have oodles of recipes, tips and shopping lists to help you!
Looking for more nutrition advice? Feel free to reach out for a free consultation here.
