When was the last time you cooked with dry beans or peas? I have at least 5 different bags sitting in my pantry waiting to be turned into soups, dips, side-dishes and even hearty main dishes. They are a healthy staple that provides us with plenty of protein and fiber. Let’s take a look at why you may want to cook with them more as well.

Beans Are Inexpensive

I probably don’t have to tell you this, but beans are very economical to cook with. You can stretch just about any family budget by using more beans. Just head to the grocery store or even better a costco or bj’s warehouse to buy your beans. If you’re not a member at one of those, or you don’t want to buy beans in large quantities to begin with, try an ethnic food store. I have been able to find a lot of different beans and other dried legumes very inexpensively at a mexican market in town.

You really don’t need to fix meat for every dinner. Try replacing one or two meals that you would traditionally serve meat with hearty bean dishes instead. Some ideas are to add cooked beans to pasta sauces instead of ground beef and to make a big pot of chili or bean soup. Of course it’s OK to add a little meat for flavoring. I like to add some leftover ham to my bean soups and stews for example. Using less meat each week will save you quite a bit at the grocery store.

Reason 2 – It’s Healthy

Beans are good for you. They are an excellent source of protein and also include a lot of much needed fiber. One of the reasons the fiber in beans is so good for you is because it is a type of soluble fiber that will grab a hold of bad cholesterol and take it out of your body. That’s one of the reasons why beans are good for your heart.

You will also be pleased to hear that beans will help you prevent and fight cancer. For those of us with diabetes it is important to know that beans can help our body use insulin more effectively by creating more receptor sites. What a great reason to eat more beans.

Reason 3 – It’s Yummy

Once you start cooking with beans you will quickly realize that you can change them up into almost any type of cuisine simply by mixing them with some interesting spices and other ingredients. Try making an Indian inspired lentil dahl, or a smoky chipotle chili. Or how about a sweet and sour bean salad or a savory bean soup?

Beans make a great side dish. Just cook them and season them according to your taste. Black beans with cumin for example are a great side dish for any grilled meat dish. Almost any type of bean can also be turned into a dip. Just cook your beans and then throw them in a food processor. Add some seasonings and you have a healthy and low fat dip.

Reason 4 – It’s Fast and Simple

Yes, you heard right I think cooking with beans is fast and simple. Here are some of the reasons why Sure, some beans have quite a long cooking time, but once you get them in the pot, they pretty much cook themselves. For an even easier approach, put your beans and plenty of liquid in the crockpot in the morning. By the time you’re ready for dinner they are done.

The other thing I love about beans is how easy they are to store. I put mine in freezer bags or tupperware type containers. You can keep them in your refrigerator for a few days or freeze them up to a month. Just thaw them on the counter, or put them in your microwave to thaw and heat them.

If you’re not a big bean fan yet, I hope this article has given you enough reasons to give these versatile veggies another try. Pick a couple of recipes and try them this week. I’m sure you’ll find a new dish you and your family will really like.