They’re among us…

With a keen eye you can spot them at dinner parties, potlucks, and family gatherings.

No one knows how they came to be, and they hide themselves well, pretending to be “normal” human beings.

They’re the picky eaters.

We all know them.

Sneaking extra bread instead of eating the main dish, rummaging through the salad bowl to avoid XYZ, or declining your latest culinary masterpiece under the guise of “just not hungry.” (I should know, I used to be one.)

Today we’ll be discussing a rare breed of these food-averters – the bean haters, and what to do about them.

Prejudice can take on many forms, and the bean haters’ wrath is placed on nutritious chewy ovals called legumes, be they of the lima, garbanzo, or cannellini variety. (Another variation of bean haters are the lentil loathers, and they’re just as stealthy and unreasonable.)

Why, you ask?

It’s hard to say, but rather than try to understand prejudice, we must learn to circumvent it whenever possible.

One of these ways is to hide the beans.

Read on.

If there’s one saying that I believe in, it’s: “Don’t ask for permission, apologize later.” This maxim has served me well in life by fostering a sense of courage and cleverness.

This, too, applies to cooking.

Unless someone has a bean allergy (obviously,) hiding beans in recipes is not only a way of upping nutrition for all, it’s also giving the gift of living longer, controlling  blood sugar, and helping to prevent (or treat) diabetes.

So keep your finger on the pulse, and try these win-win sleight of hand tricks that do every body good.

(If all that beany fiber gives you gurgles, read this article.)

So, there you have it! All my tricks for getting those beans in the belly, even if you (or someone you love) doesn’t like ’em.

Do you love or loathe beans? Would love to hear from you down in the comments. Have a beany recipe that I should try? Please share it with me!

Until next time,