Season: Year-round

Description: Beans provide fiber and protein. Fiber helps control cholesterol and keeps you regular and protein helps build and repair muscle tissue. Beans also provide potassium, magnesium and folate. Potassium helps maintain healthy blood pressure. Folate may reduce your risk of heart disease. Eating foods with folate before pregnancy helps lower the risk of delivering a baby with neural tube defects.

Selection: Select dried beans or canned beans with less sodium. Dried beans should be dry, firm, clean and uniform in color. Avoid selecting dried beans that appear shriveled.

Storing: Store dried beans at room temperature in a closed container to keep moisture and pests out. Store canned beans at room temperature and use before the expiration date.

Recipes containing Beans: