Vegans love VEGAN, but for many the word carries a lot of negative connotation. Some even warned us not to put it on the Better Bean packaging because vegan (once) equated ‘no taste’ or ‘bad taste’. These days of course we all know vegan food is STELLAR. That said, those of us in the veg movement have tuned towards a more uplifting description of our diets: Plant-based. For some time I have said I am plant-based — Now, after meeting Sharon Palmer, The Plant Powered RD I have decided to join the wave and become PLANT-POWERED! How about it? Are you in? Let us know in the comments below!Any one who is plant-powered is, at their base, Bean-Powered or Pulse-Powered (because we love lentils and peas too). Sharon is a Bean Lover to the nines! As a registered Dietitian, she,

“recommend[s] that people eat beans every day as a replacement for animal protein.” Why ? “They are packed with protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals…. Research shows that eating beans is linked with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes… You can even reduce your carbon footprint by eating more meals with beans instead of animal foods.”

Like Better Bean, Sharon sees how “People used to eat lots of beans, but now we are not eating so many. And it’s such a shame!” That is why we linked up; at Better Bean it is our mission to inspire people to eat more beans! We do it through our tasty, easy to eat products. Sharon invites us to create tradition around beans, as so many cultures and her southern family did. “Beans have a long history of use as a staple in many cultures around the world. Just think of lentils in India, pinto beans in Mexico, and soy beans in Japan, and you’ll see what I mean. These simple foods were easy to grow and inexpensive. Plus—very nutritious!”

“My mother grew up in Arkansas, and she has so many bean food traditions. We always had a pot of simmering beans, black-eyed peas, or lentils on the stove. She would serve it with fresh cornbread and veggies. So delicious—really comfort food at its best. I think it’s important to try to create food culture and traditions in your own home, and beans should be a fabulous part of this tradition.”

How does Sharon enjoy beans now? “I love to sprinkle them over my salad at lunch time. Or serve them as an entree along with a simmered whole grain or sautéed veggies for dinner. They’re great in wraps or burritos, too. So versatile!”

Sharon even has a great new recipe tradition to share with you from her new book, The Plant-Powered Life: White Bean Farro Burgers. Check out her book on her website – or buy it directly off of Amazon: here

You can find more on Plant-Powered nutrition on her website: Check out Sharon at her website: sharonpalmer.com. She can help you determine how to get all the right nutrients for your Plant-Powered body!

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