Bean Counters - Calories in Beans

How do you describe a Successful Dieter?

That term would be: Bean Counter. If you're striving to lose weight on the fast track, counting the calories in foods can certainly speed up your Diet Train.

Since we're on the subject of Bean Counters, let's use the familiar bean to illustrate our point. Each of the servings of beans is based on a 1/2 cup serving.

Brown OR Pinto Beans - 115 calories. This variety is delicious when served with a warm wedge of cornbread or a corn muffin. You'll be getting quite a lot of dietary fiber with this combination - as well as an ample dose of whole grain goodness.

And you can also add any of the following to your bowl to create other layers of flavor for just a few kcals more: pickles jalapeno slices, banana or other peppers, picante or salsa, chopped onion, or reduced fat cheese.

Fresh Green - 20 measly calories! If you have never experimented with growing this variety in your garden - they are one of the easiest plants to grow. Be sure to allow ample room in between the rows for squatting, weeding and harvesting.

French - 15 wee kcals; these are fabulous for creating Green Bean Casseroles that contain cream of mushroom soup. For a reduced fat version, use the low fat cream of mushroom soup and reduce the amount of French onions added to the recipe.

Northern - 105 calories for the great north wind. Take note that these aren't solely for Northerners! We-Southerners love them, too.

Navy - We salute you at 130 kcals. Double that amount and add a slice of whole grain bread to the meal and you'll be full for hours to come.

Broad - 95 kcals so there will be nothing broad on the body after feasting on these babies.

Adzuki - 150 kcals. This variety may be difficult to find; I usually have to visit a farmer's market in my area for the dried state. They are very pretty and speckled on the exterior.

Kidney - 115 calories and we ain't kidding. They are yum in chili and they come in several colors - light, dark and generally very red or brown.

Black - Popular in Mexican dishes as well as drained in salads - 115 per serving.

Limas - 110 per serving and fabulous candidates for homemade soups. Or try making a homemade corn and lima bean mix (succotash); you'll need one can of drained limas (baby or mature), one can in equal size of drained whole corn and a bit of your favorite sauce or reduced fat dressing. We like the raspberry walnut drizzle onto our succotash.

Mung - Out on a rung at 105 calories.

Pink - 125 pretty in pink calories.

Soybeans - 150 per serving.

Winged - Flying in at 125 calories.

As we can see, counting calories can get as confusing as learning the English language.

The dieter must not only have knowledge of the amount of energy values contained in a certain food BUT also have the knowledge of the calories contained in the different varieties of that food.

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