Beans, Beans, the Magical Fruit

By Dana McMahan FoodConnect Louisville foodconnect.com@gmail.com Beans, Beans, the Magical Fruit I have some trouble with motivation when it comes to losing weight. I just enjoy eating too much to want to be bothered with counting calories. And I do love my dairy group. But I have a Major Adventure coming up – I’m going to Morocco and Paris next week. (squeal!) It’s a rather last minute decision, I booked it about two weeks ago. Upcoming trips to far flung destinations have a way of motivating me like no threat of looming swimsuit season ever can. So I embarked on a plan that I shall not call a diet. I kept eating really yummy foods, I just loaded up on the secret ingredient: legumes. I’m telling you, nothing fills you up faster and keeps you full longer than good old fashioned beans or lentils. I kept using plenty of olive oil, though not so much butter, and only a little goat cheese now and then (bye bye brie till Paris!). Here are some of the meals I enjoyed while I shed five pounds over the last couple of weeks: An abundance of grilled chickpeas in a bowl full of fresh spring lettuces in a Grilled Portabella and Chickpea salad. Lots of black eyed peas in my made-up Kitchen Sink Quinoa Salad A hearty bowlful of lentils in a lentil and fennel soup I also dug into a grilled sweet potato, black beans and brown rice dish sprinkled with cilantro, a delicious shrimp and white bean and watercress salad with a lemon mint dressing and a beautiful spinach and lentil salad. I should caution that I’m obviously not a doctor, nor do I play one on the internet, and if you’re not used to this much fiber you may have some unpleasant side effects. But building a couple of legume-centered dishes into your weekly meals plan may help you too, whether it’s vacation, swimsuit season, or just self-motivation driving you to drop a couple pounds.