Beans as a vegetable????

[kwormann]

DO you consider beans as a vegetable serving? Ive heard no, its NOT a veggie, and Ive heard yes, it is a veggie. (By beans, I am talking black, pinto etc.)

If you DO consider them a veggie, are you only thinking of green beans, or do they all fall in this catagory?

TIA,

Kim

[mlou]

No scientific authority but just in my opinion.....

Vegetarians would probably consider them "meat" in our age old thinking of meat, starch, and veggie on the plate.

I would consider them a grain and so they would fall into the rice, pasta, and potato category.

.....so a meal with beans and no veggie would leave me feeling that I did not have a veggie. It always did make me crazy when people considered beans and weenies or pork and baked beans a meal http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[JulieM]

I agree with mlou, definitely not a fruit or vegetable.

[kwormann]

That was kind of my feeling too..they would be a protein and a fiber/carb category. Wouldnt it be nice if one food could meet all of these needs?

Any other feelings on the subject?

[catharine]

I too have read that beans count as a veggie. Of course, I also think of them as protein and grain. But when I am counting up to my five-a-day (I actually try for more) I count beans. Just my opinion, though.

[Saralee]

I usually classify beans as a starch or protein, too. It's interesting, there are other foods that I put into more than one category. Things like corn and potatoes (regular and sweet.) Is it a vegetable or starch? People who follow the exchange system would classify them as a starch, but other people consider them veggies. Hmm..

[AndreaU]

Those types of beans (as opposed to string beans) are considered "legumes." They are related to peas, which come in pods- that is the distinction between pintos and green beans. According to the food pyramid, they fall in the meat/protein category. As vegetarians, legumes are our primary source of protein (which would otherwise come from meat). That is why peanut butter is in the meat/fish/protein category, too- peanuts are legumes.

[Ohioan]

The Bean Queen checks in again....

I don't consider beans part of the fruit/vegetable group, because they have a different complement of nutrients from those for which you're supposed to eat the "five a day." I consider them mostly a protein, and although they are starchy and so could be considered a starch, I tend not to think of them as "starches," because the starches of my menus are the ones that complete the beans' proteins, i.e., the grains: rice, pasta, breads, polenta, etc. Oh, and an occasional potato, although it doesn't have the protein "kick" of the other starches.

So along with my beans 'n' grains main courses, I have heaping portions of green and yellow vegetables, and then lovely fruit for dessert. Yum yum.

Does this answer the question, or have I just been fantasizing about tonight's dinner menu? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/confused.gif

Cheers,
Phoebe

[This message has been edited by Ohioan (edited 04-09-2001).]

[kwormann]

Can I come live at your house, Phoebe??? I bet Id lose my weight then!

Kim

[Ohioan]

Originally posted by kwormann:
Can I come live at your house, Phoebe??? I bet Id lose my weight then!

Kim

Sure, Kim, come on over! My Le Creuset bean pot awaits you. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Oops, let me rephrase that. I'm not going to throw you in the bean pot; I'm going to feed you from it. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

Cheers,
Phoebe

[kwormann]

Phoebe,

I NEEDED that out loud belly laugh!

Kim http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

ps....if I still lived in Indiana Id be there in just a couple of hours...BTW, what do you teach???

[This message has been edited by kwormann (edited 04-09-2001).]

[kentgirl]

Just going to throw my 2 cents in on this subject. I've been following the diet exchange program to lose weight, and beans are definitely considered a starch.

The nutritional breakdown goes like this:

One Starch exchange = 80 calories; 15g carbs, 3 gr protein
(1/2 cup beans, 1/2 cup corn, 1/2 cup peas)

One Vegetable exchange = 25 calories; 5g carbs; 2 gr protein
(1/2 cup cooked broccoli, 1/2 cup cooked carrots)

Meat is a totally separate exchange.

Just as an aside---I have tried to lose weight for years, and I have found the diet exchange program the only program that has worked for me. I just get so tired of figuring the exchanges for CL recipes....if only CL would include them in the nutritional information!

[This message has been edited by kentgirl (edited 04-09-2001).]