Often times, when people think about getting enough protein in their diets, they think they need to make sure they consume plenty of chicken, beef, eggs, turkey, pork, fish, etc.
They aren't wrong; those are great protein options. But they aren't the only options available. Especially if people are trying to transition to vegetarian and vegan diets and lifestyles. There are plant protein options available for those cutting back or cutting down on their meat intake.
One of them, and possibly a fairly popular option, is black beans. In recent years, black beans have become a more popular choice for a protein replacement that isn't meat.
Now, granted, black beans of course won't give you the huge boost of protein like chicken or beef will, but they do provide a good amount in a serving. One cup of black beans will provide 14.5 grams of protein while also only serving 218 calories. They are also only 40 grams of carbs and 16-17 grams of fiber, which will help keep you regular and reduce bloating. So imagine killing two healthy birds with one stone by having both a vegetable and protein source in one food.
So, if you are replacing black beans as your meat, what can you do with it? The first thing you need to do, if you aren't using canned beans, is make sure you wash and soak your beans for about 8 hours to make sure they are soft enough to be consumed. Then, you can add them to rice for a black bean and rice dish. Top a baked sweet potato with black beans and corn for a Mexican-inspired stuffed sweet potato. Add them to your stews and soups for extra protein.
Don't limit them. Feel free to include meat with them. Wait, what? Yes, if you are still eating meat, black beans actually can just add extra protein, especially for people who struggle to consume enough protein to actually build quality muscle. Throw some chicken on top of that black bean and rice dish to boost the protein content.
We about the love of black beans ... because black is beautiful!
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