--Alice Waters
 |
| Dried lentils |
You should
know upfront that I love lentils. Green
lentils, black lentils, French lentils, red lentils. All the colors are all in my food pantry and
they are part of my weekly cooking plans. I can't imagine life without lentils.
Lentils are
like your favorite cousins. They are all related
and have things in common because they are family but each cousin is different from one another.
Here are 5 things lentils
have in common:
- Lentils are one of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet.
- Lentils are one of the best sources of dietary fiber on the planet (fiber is only found in plant foods). One serving of lentils = ¼ cup dried lentils which turns into ½ to 2/3 cup of cooked lentils. One serving of lentils contains between 5 and 10 grams of dietary fiber. Adults need 28-45 grams of fiber every day. Kids need around 28 grams a day (about 14 grams of fiber per 1,000 calories consumed). One serving of lentils is an easy way to get your daily dietary fiber.
- Because lentils are very high in dietary fiber, they fill you up, preventing overeating.
- Lentils cost next to nothing! A one pound bag of lentils costs between $1 and $2 and will easily make several meals for a family.
- Lentils, unlike beans, do not need to be soaked prior to cooking.
- Lentils have a short cooking time. Twenty or thirty minutes is all it takes.
- Lentils are in the legume plant food group. Other foods that are legumes are beans and peas.
How lentils differ from each other:
- They are different colors (green, brown, red, black).
- Some remain firm when cooked (French lentils), others practically melt when cooked (red lentils).
My
favorite source for great lentil recipes is www.lentils.org. Make this your go-to resource!
With food this good, who needs meat! Make fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains your main food groups.
With love,
Nancy
Heinrich, MPH
Founder and
Wellness Architect
