With all the food trends, people are more and more at a loss as to they are "allowed" to eat aside for organic, homegrown kale. The attack on food has taken a sharp turn towards legumes (peanuts, beans, etc.). For years, we were told beans were incredibly good for you, and that they make a handy meat substitute. We started throwing them in everything, attempting to re-invent starchy wheels. Now, suddenly, new "research" has shown how terrible they are for you.
When evaluating what you want to put into your body, you must look at YOUR personal health and fitness goals. Look at the food for it's nutritional value and ask yourself, "Does the nutritional value of this food outweight the supposed 'risks' associated with it?" If the answer is yes, eat without guilt! If the answer is no, then move on...still without guilt or regret. I love beans, they are packed with protein and fiber. They are naturally low in fat and very filling. They are less expensive than meat, and make a great meat substitute in many dishes. The reason why beans have recently come under fire is their high carbohydrate content. True, they are quite starchy and pack a carb punch. Taking all of this into account, I chose to keep beans in my diet, and limit my carb explosure in other areas.
Today, I was craving black beans and rice with a little shredded jack cheese. I prepared the beans as I normally would, and instead of pairing them with a high carb food like rice, I made a batch of cauliflower "rice". It was delish! I found a way to make one of my favorite foods work. I did not sacrifice my health goals, I just made needed adjustments.
Vocab term to learn: Nutrient density
What it means: How many vitamins and nutrients are packed into one serving of something compared to a single serving of another food.
Example: Doughnut vs an Apple. The apple is clearly more nutrient dense than the doughnut.
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