If you are talking about your food, being full of beans is great. Delicious dishes that are very healthy! Beans are a great source of protein without the saturated fat and cholesterol of other protein, like meat. Instead, beans are loaded with fiber, B vitamins, and all those minerals that keep your body running well, like iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc! A diet that's "full of beans" helps reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease and obesity. That's why we say: It's actually good to be "full of beans!"  

So many different tasting kinds of beans makes cooking with them a deliciously easy way to balance your diet while balancing your budget! One cup of beans has 30% of the protein and 50% of the fiber you need every day. Black beans, pinto beans, white beans, red beans, kidney beans, adluki beans. With all those choices, it's easy to add taste and health to your meals.

• Dip veggies or chips in black bean dip made by combining one can of black beans with with ½ cup of salsa and 2 Tablespoons of lime juice and cilantro.
• Add beans to your stews and soups.
• Help your budget and your health with Half Bean Burgers. You won't even miss the meat: https://goo.gl/14Bzrn
• Feed a family party with Dark & Spicy Chili:https://goo.gl/aNjHq1
•  Recipe serves 12!

Get your diet "full of beans". Your body and your budget will thank you!   

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Mexican Bean Salad 

Recipe from AllRecipes.com

Serve this cold as a side dish or mix it into rice and serve warm. 

Ingredients

• 1 can black beans, 1 can kidney beans, 1 can cannellini beans: drained and rinsed (or 3 cans of your favorite beans)
• 1 green bell pepper, & 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen corn kernels
• 1 red onion chopped
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 clove crushed garlic
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1/2 tablespoon ground black pepper
• 1 dash hot pepper sauce (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (optional)

Preparation

•  In a large bowl, combine beans, bell peppers, frozen corn, and red onion.          

   

• In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, lime juice, lemon juice, sugar, salt, garlic, cilantro, cumin, and black pepper. Season to taste with hot sauce and chili powder. 
•  Pour olive oil dressing over vegetables; mix well. Chill thoroughly and serve cold. (Add chopped avocado before serving!)

Note: Can be heated and served over cooked rice.

Tips & Treats

• Make a batch of Dark and Spicy Chili and freeze what you don't eat. 

•  To add meat to our chili recipe, cook ½ pound of chopped meat or chorizo separately and add during the last ½ hour.

•  Cooked beans or lentils can be substituted for ½ cup of meat in most dishes without changing the flavor.                                    
   
• To cook your own beans (and help your budget) soak beans over night in enough water to cover them. Add fresh water and cook for about an hour. Check the package for the exact cooking time. It will vary with different beans. 

Soup for Supper: More delicious & hearty bean dishes:  

• Italian Lentil Soup loaded with veggies makes a meal: https://goo.gl/tHfhVe                 Add cooked sausage or chorizo.  
• Red Lentil soup with coconut:

   https://goo.gl/gKbsDS 

• For a heartier, thicker soup, use slightly less broth.

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