Beans and Lentils and Starchy Vegetables

This Food Talk Features blog highlights two delicious vegetable sub-groups: Beans, peas, and lentils and starchy vegetables! Keep reading to learn more about these unique veggies!

Each month this year, we are featuring a different food group or sub-group as part of our Food Talk Features… Series. Last month, we talked about dark green vegetables like broccoli and leafy greens. These veggies are fiber-filled for good digestion. They also contain folate, which helps our bodies make blood and prevents birth defects. Learn more about why we love dark green vegetables here!

This month, we’re diving into two more vegetable sub-groups: Beans, peas, and lentils and starchy vegetables! Other vegetable subgroups include:

Red and orange vegetables
Dark green vegetables
And other vegetables. [1]

What are the benefits of these vegetable sub-groups?

Beans, Peas, and Lentils

Beans, peas, and lentils are a group of vegetables called “pulses.” They contain fiber and are a great source of plant-based protein. Beans, peas, and lentils are very helpful for people who do not eat meat. This is because they can count as a serving of protein when we eat plenty of other vegetables! [2]

The fiber in beans, peas, and lentils helps to lower cholesterol levels. This may reduce our risk of getting heart disease. Beans, peas, and lentils are a good source of folate, just like leafy green vegetables. Folate is needed for making blood and protects against birth defects. These veggies also contain antioxidants that support a strong immune system. [1] [3]

Examples of beans, peas, and lentils include:

Beans like pinto, kidney, black, pink, garbanzo, soy, and mung beans
Split, black-eyed, and pigeon peas
Brown, black, red, and green lentils
Foods made with beans, peas, and lentils (like bean burgers, falafel, tofu, and tempeh)

Green peas, lima beans, and string beans are not part of this veggie sub-group. This is because their nutrient content is closer to other types of vegetables. [4] [5]

Beans, peas, and lentils are a cheap way to get lots of nutrition! Dried versions are usually more affordable. After soaking in water, they are ready for cooking just like the canned versions. Remember that fresh, dried, canned, and frozen veggies are all nutritious ways to buy vegetables! [1]

We love this veggie sub-group so much that we have a blog all about it! Check out our All About Beans blog to learn how to prepare dried beans for cooking.

Starchy Vegetables

Some people think that starchy vegetables should be avoided, but this is not true. They are actually filled with nutrients! Like other vegetables, starchy veggies have lots of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. All of these things help prevent disease and promote a healthy heart. [6]

Foods in the starchy vegetable sub-group include:

Corn (white and yellow)
Green peas
White potatoes and yams
Cassava
Jicama
Plantains
Yucca

These foods are in the starchy veggie sub-group because they have similar nutrients. [5] Compared to other vegetable sub-groups, they also contain more carbohydrates per cup. This does not mean they need to be avoided! Instead, vary your veggies throughout the week so you get a good balance of nutrients.

Did you know that white potatoes are the vegetable that Americans eat the most? [7] White potatoes in particular contain potassium. This is a nutrient that many Americans need more of! [8] Potassium is important for keeping blood pressure in a healthy range. A healthy blood pressure also lowers our risk of heart disease and stroke. [9]

How much do I need?

The amount of vegetables we need every day depends on many factors. Most adults should aim for 1-3 cups of vegetables a day.

When it comes to measuring out portions of pulses and starchy vegetables, it’s easy! 1 cup of the food counts as a 1-cup-serving. For example, 1 cup of whole, mashed, or cooked lentils counts towards 1 cup of your daily vegetables. 1 medium white potato is also a 1-cup-serving.

Veggie sub-group suggestions are based on how much we should try to eat each week. Check out this table below to learn how many servings of beans, peas, and lentils and starchy veggies to aim for: