Dry Beans - double pleasure, double fiber

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​One of the most valuable health guidelines is to eat a high fiber diet, and there are many options for increasing fiber in  our diets.  Of  all the options the one that I believe tops all others, provides the most choices and variety and is most versatile is one I grew up eating every day. For me it's a comfort food, full of flavor, high in fiber and also protein, versatile and economical. It's a great way to add high quality protein and fiber in everyone's diet in the most economical way
What is this wonder food? 
​Beans!
Beans good for you and there are so many different varieties that you never tire of them. Although they're all legumes, each one has a unique appearance and interesting taste, so there's no boredome for the eyes or pallate. 

What are the different types of beans? These are just a few of the many, and I've eaten them all. How many of these of these have you tried?

• Adzuki  - nutty and sweet flavor with a small, reddish brown appearance
• Baby Lima – buttery and rich flavor with a creamy white, flat-shaped appearance
•  Black Bean or turtle beans – sweet and mild flavor and soft texture with a small ovals with deep black appearance
• Black eye or cowpeas or black-eyed peas – distinctive flavor and creamy texture with a kidney shape with white skin and a small black eye
• Cranberry – nut-like taste, creamy texture with a small rounded appearance with red markings on ivory skin prior to cooking
• Dark Red Kidney – full-bodied flavor and soft texture with large, kidney shaped, deep reddish-brown color
• Garbanzo or chickpeas – nutlike taste and buttery texture with a beige to pale yellow appearance
• Great Northern – takes the flavors of other foods they are cooked with and has a flat, kidney-shaped, white appearance
• Large Lima or butter beans – creamy and sweet flavor with an ivory color, flat shape appearance
• Light Red Kidney – full-bodied flavor and soft texture with a large, kidney-shaped appearance
• Navy or pea beans – mild flavor with a powdery texture and small white oval appearance
• Pink – meaty with a slightly powdery texture and small, pale-pink appearance before cooking and a reddish brown color after cooking
• Pinto – powdery texture with mottled beige and brown appearance and medium oval size
• Small Red or Mexican red beans – the flavor and appearance are similar to red kidney beans, but is smaller in size

If you have a favorite bean recipes please share it with us and when you make a pot, make it a big one to share with your friends or freeze for another meal. If you don't have a favorite recipe, check out the Bean Soup recipe in Flavorful Fortified Food - Recipes to Enrich Life.  Enjoy! and eat beans today and every day.