Even though most people don’t think of beans as a vegetable, they are!  And they aren’t just any vegetable - beans are a nutrient-rich powerhouse:

• Beans have more fiber and protein than any other vegetable. 1  
• Beans are good-to-excellent sources of eight important nutrients that many people don’t get enough of in their diet.
• Beans are naturally cholesterol- and saturated fat-free.
• Research suggests that beans can play a role in promoting health and preventing disease, including reducing cancer risk, improving cardiovascular health, controlling blood sugar and managing weight. 2

Discover the health benefits of beans’ nutrient-rich package:

*Based on average % Daily Values of ½ cup servings of baby lima beans, black beans, blackeye peas, cranberry beans, garbanzo beans, Great Northern beans, navy beans, pinto beans, red kidney beans.

Beans have an important place in MyPyramid, the USDA’s recommended eating plan for Americans. Because of their nutrient content, beans and peas are the only foods that appear in two food groups: Meat & Beans and Vegetables.

• Beans are in the Meat & Beans Group because they are a good source of protein and iron. Even better, beans provide a low-fat, saturated fat-free, and cholesterol-free source of protein.
• Beans are listed in the Vegetables Group because they are a plant-based food that provides fiber, folate, potassium and antioxidants.