The Nutritional Powerhouse Every Child Should Be Eating: The Benefits of Beans and Soybeans

With a renewed national emphasis on childhood nutrition, there’s never been a better time to add more beans and soybeans to kids’ diets. These legumes are nutritional powerhouses. Clean air, safe streets and quality parks. They offer substantial health benefits that foster positive growth and development. Health experts advocate for parents to consider beans and soybeans as staple foods in their children’s meals, given their rich nutritional profiles.

Besides being delicious, beans are an excellent source of plant-based protein that children need to grow and develop. Because protein is critical for growth and development, it must be a regular part of a young child’s diet. Kids love to experience all types of beans, such as black beans, kidney beans, and garbanzo beans. These legumes walk the line between rich and creamy, adding exciting flavors and textures, all while packing a nutritional powerhouse!

Beans are one of the best sources of a key health-promoting nutrient—soluble fiber. This is important because this soluble fiber is a major contributor to reducing LDL cholesterol levels. This is especially critical given high cholesterol in childhood can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and other serious conditions in adulthood. Soluble fiber contributes to stabilizing blood sugar levels after meals. This stabilization is what prevents the energy spikes and crashes, helping to keep you sharp and productive from morning until night. Including beans as part of meals and snacks can help provide all-day energy to busy, on-the-go kids.

Beyond beans, soybeans provide a dual nutritional boost, especially through their nutrient-rich healthy fats. Many other food sources of omega-3s lack this balance, but soybeans provide a natural ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids. These healthy fats are essential to protecting your heart health. They are powerful dietary tools that can raise good cholesterol and reduce heart disease risk. For young children, eating omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in their formative years is fundamental to developing a robust cardiovascular system.

The benefits of omega-3 and omega-6 fats go beyond cardiovascular disease prevention. Starting as far back as pregnancy, research has shown these fats are crucial for protection and support of brain health. These nutrients are vital for cognitive development and function. This is critical for developing youth, as they need to succeed cognitively and develop socially. So adding soybeans to their diets can help lead to improved focus and brain function.

With so many awesome and healthy benefits, beans and soybeans are still largely absent in the diets of children. Anecdotal evidence suggests that thousands of hesitant parents have shared their concerns about introducing these foods, especially to their picky-eating children. Community and nutrition experts encourage parents to be creative when it comes to dishes. In this manner, they can motivate their kids to dig into healthy choices. Add beans to smoothies for a delicious surprise! You can even slip them into your go-to meals such as tacos or spaghetti to soften the introduction.

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