Add Lentils to Your Diet for Powerful Nutrition

Legumes have a great reputation for being packed with nutrition; what they don’t have is a reputation for being scrumptious, mouth-watering, easy to cook with, and versatile. Our bean repertoire often begins to get repetitive after so many bean soups and dips. Luckily, the lovely lentil is here to save the day. Quick, easy, nutrient-dense, and, best of all, delicious, lentils are a superfood that you can easily incorporate into your diet.

Why Lentils? Not sure you want to include lentils in your diet? There’s little reason not to. One cup of cooked lentils provides you with 18 grams of muscle-building protein, 15 grams of filling fiber, and 90 percent of your recommended daily allowance of folic acid. A cup costs you less than one gram of fat, no cholesterol, and only 230 calories. Lentils have been shown to lower blood lipid levels, which improves heart health, and the satisfied feeling you get from the protein and fiber can help you avoid overeating and lose weight. You will find few foods that can offer such great benefits in just one cup.

Lentils are Good for You – and Your Budget As well as being one of the best foods in the grocery store, lentils are one of the most affordable. A one-pound bag typically costs just over a dollar and can provide the foundation for a variety of tasty, healthy meals. Yet another benefit of lentils is that, unlike other legumes and beans, they do not require pre-soaking. You don’t have to boil them for an hour or leave them to soak overnight. You can simply cook and enjoy.

Eating Lentils Lentils are the perfect base for any number of dishes, including soups, salads, dips, and main courses. They tend to take on flavor from other foods they are cooked with, which can help diversify their rich, earthy flavor. They come in a green, red, and brown, each of which has its own unique properties. Red, for instance, is a great choice for curries, while brown lentils help bulk up soups and stews. You can find hundreds of delicious lentil recipes, and experimenting with this versatile legume is a healthy, filling, and satisfying way to incorporate a superfood into your diet.