WHAT ABOUT BEANS!!!!

Meal prepping today...soaking the beans...love the convenience of canned beans, but I don't like the ingredients some of them contain..and for the price, I would rather take the time to soak and cook beans then to pay for ones without the preservatives and BPA lines cans.

What to look for when choosing beans in a can:
When choosing canned vegetables look for a short ingredient list. Ideally, water, a small amount of salt and the vegetable. As you can see in the ingredient list below, this can of organic kidney beans did not have any extra additives.

Watch out for unwanted items like sweeteners, preservatives, coloring agents, firming agents and high amounts of sodium. If you are not familiar with an ingredient, look it up before buying or eating it. There are plenty of resources online, or you can contact me directly.

Canned products are convenient but cans can contain BPA. (A cancer causing chemical a polycarbonate (Bisphenol-A)). This chemical can be absorbed by the food causing serious health effects. Canada banned the use of BPA in baby bottles in 2008 and many US states have also banned or restricted BPA.

So what can you do?

Skip the can! Dried, bulk beans are very cost effective and easy to prepare; although it will take some time and effort. Most require soaking overnight and the cooking. This way, you can season and control the salt.