By, Nichi Hirsch Kuechle

Beans are a tough food to convince children to eat, and one many people like to avoid due to their gas producing properties.  I have discovered it comes down to how you prepare and serve beans that garner a child’s attention (or an adult for that matter.)

3.  For a toddler, plain cooked beans are a great finger food…they are soft and fun to play with and it’s a great age to introduce healthy options like beans.
 

4.  Mash and mix them into a prepared hummus or spread for crackers or whole grain bread.
 

5.  Add them to stews, soups and casseroles.  This is easy to do with canned organic beans of many kinds. (Watch for the sodium levels in canned beans and to avoid this soak and cook them yourself for a fraction of the cost.)
 

6.  Toss them into a whole grain pasta salad, either hot or cold.
 

7.  Use the old standby of beans/rice.  I have met very few children who don’t like this option, especially with a little melted cheese.  If need be, mash the beans and stir them into the rice before melting the cheese.

Beans are an excellent food choice for children and adults in that they pack anywhere from 14-22 grams of protein per cup into our diets!  Make beans a part of your lifestyle for a well- rounded, protein packed food source your family will grow to love.