beans

The best healthy foods are the ones that taste anything but good for you. Take these recipes for instance. We've got cookies, burgers, smoothies, and more — and all are made by sneakily adding in protein-packed beans!

Blueberry Banana Smoothie

What's great about smoothies is that you can hide just about any healthy ingredient in your glass, and the sweetness of the fruit disguises the flavor. Try this protein-packed recipe (the beans add five grams of fiber and six grams of protein):

1 banana
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 cup cannellini beans
6 oz. vanilla yogurt

Spicy Black Bean Hummus

While it's not a huge departure from the original recipe, there's no reason that chickpeas should be the only legumes invited to the hummus party. Get creative by substituting chickpeas with white or black beans, like in this recipe for a spicy black bean hummus. Compared to chickpeas, black beans offer more iron, potassium, magnesium, fiber, and vitamin B1.

Learn how to make a burger and cookie recipe after the break!

Itching to channel your outdoorsy side sans the mosquitoes? This season, rely on smoky baked beans to bolster your camping daydreams. Here, Cooking in Pajamas shows you how.

Are baked beans a warm comforting dish for a blustery day, or are they the perfect side dish to serve at your Summer BBQ?
In my humble opinion, they're both. Nothing says Summer to me like a cookout with burgers and hot dogs, corn on the cob, and a side of baked beans. But then again, there is nothing quite as nourishing as a bowl of warm, comforting baked beans on a cold rainy day.

Nothing makes your house smell as good as a pot of homemade beans baking in the oven. Yes, this recipe cuts a few corners by using canned beans, but the final product will taste nothing like anything out of a can.

Keep reading for her baked beans recipe

You've heard how meatless Mondays are good for the planet. Now, look to Cooking in Pajamas for a fast and easy vegan chili recipe.

Meatless Monday is back baby!  It never actually went anywhere, I just kept forgetting to blog about it. In my quest to get healthy and lose a few pounds before my 20th anniversary trip in April, I have been testing out a plant based diet. I keep going back and forth on whether I want to include fish in my diet. I am thinking of limiting it to once or twice a month. While I decide, I am loving some of the vegetarian dishes I have made. For lunch yesterday I made a polenta pizza. . .a grilled slice of polenta topped with a slice of heirloom tomato, shredded mozzarella, garlic and basil.

This chili will knock your socks off. Not only is it healthy, it is a flavorful and spicy bowl of vegetables, beans, chiles, spices and wine. You can easily serve this to the die-hard meat eaters in your house, and it will be gobbled up.

This chili is also vegan, which means it contains no dairy products. If you are not into the vegan thing, feel free to top your bowl of chili with sour cream and sharp cheddar. The chili is quite spicy. As you see it has a jalapeño AND a chipotle chili. If you would like a more mild version, use half of the jalapeño with the seeds removed. Try not to cut back on the chipotle because it adds a deep, smoky flavor.

For her unique technique — which involves marinating tofu for extra flavor! — keep reading.

Joke all you want, but since they offer so many health benefits, beans really are the magical fruit (or legume, really). If you shy away from them, here are three reasons to start eating beans today.

Encourage Weight Loss
Thanks to their high fiber and water content, beans are extremely filling; it doesn't take much to feel satisfied. Taking a long time to digest, beans help keep hunger at bay for longer, which means less snacking later. A recent study found that on average, bean eaters were seven pounds lighter and have slimmer waists than those who don't eat legumes. A more slender you not only builds self-confidence, it also lowers your risk of developing diabetes and heart disease.

Keep reading to find out more reasons you should be eating beans (recipes included!).

BPA (bisphenol A) is bad news. Animal studies of this chemical, which used to be found in many reusable plastic water bottles, links high levels of BPA to cancer, heart disease, and early puberty. BPA-free bottles have replaced reusable plastic water bottles and baby bottles, but BPA is also used in the lining of canned foods. A recent Harvard study found that after participants ate a serving of canned foods once a day, five days in a row, their levels of BPA rose 10 times.

As a vegetarian, I've been living on canned beans since they're so convenient. But now I feel they're unsafe to eat, especially for my 1-year-old. If canned beans are a staple in your diet, here are three BPA-free alternatives.

• Go with Eden: This brand of organic canned beans specifically says on the label, "bisphenol A-free can lining." Don't assume that all "healthy brands" are BPA-free. I emailed Westbrae, and at this time, the linings of their cans do contain BPA.

Continue reading for two more BPA-free alternatives to canned beans.

This bean salad will make the perfect side dish for your next Summer barbecue. FitSugar reader Dara8182 posted it in our Healthy Recipe group.

This tasty dish is a great healthy side for your next cookout. Filled with protein and fiber, simple beans, and some garden fresh herbs, the recipe is simple, delicious, and versatile. Add this salad to wraps, veggies, or pasta for a complete meal.

Learn more about the recipe after the break!

Sometimes it's nice to prepare a big bowl of beans; then, you can use the beans over and over again to make different dishes throughout the week. Tonight I suggest you throw together a pot of these fragrant and flavorful black beans. The recipe calls for canned beans, so you don't have to worry about overnight-soaking or cooking for a long period of time. Serve the beans in a crispy taco shell, layered between two soft tortillas as quesadillas, or tossed with greens in a hearty salad. To get the fast and easy recipe, keep reading.

If you're a fan of slow-cooked baked beans, you'll love this easy recipe for white beans with bacon, beer, and rosemary. This dish requires time: the beans must be soaked overnight and then cooked in the oven for two hours, so plan ahead. The wait is worth it, though. The beans are rustic but elegant, and absolutely delicious. Entertaining? Serve with roast chicken and a green salad. To get the recipe, read more.