lentils

Food of the Month: Lentil Walnut Meatloaf

Care of Andrea Howe of glowingongreens.com Winter is a time when we Canadians turn to hearty, warm meals, often using more canned foods. Since our climate is not capable of growing fresh produce all year round, using canned products, like lentils, is a great way to still use local products. Lentils are a nutrition-packed ingredient you should definitely be including in your diet. They are so versatile and because they have a mild flavour, they’re great in most dishes. Lentils are rich in iron, fibre, B vitamins, and a great source of plant-based protein. Just one cup of cooked lentils provides about 18g of protein. Additionally, their fibre content comes in at about 15g for 1 cup, giving you about half of your daily needs. Fibre is a nutrient most people do not get enough of. Increasing fibre in your diet can help reduce blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and the risk of developing various chronic diseases and cancer. Their B-vitamin content also makes them great for our brain. B vitamins, such as thiamine and folate aid in healthy brain development in infants, as well as the maintenance and function in adult brains. Additionally, lentils are a great source of… Read More

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Food of the Month: Love Your Lentils

Care of Amy Symington Lentils are a hearty way to fuel your body!  Part of the pulse family, they’re packed with fibre, Folate, Vitamin B1, iron, protein and are brimming with essential amino acids. They come in almost every colour of the rainbow from French Green to Masoor Crimson Red and they have even more culinary uses. From lentil burgers to hearty stews, stuffed pastries to pasta sauces and succulent side salads, the delicious list goes on and on. In terms of health benefits, there are a plenty! From all that glorious fibre they can aid in lowering cholesterol levels and help to maintain blood sugar levels, which is phenomenal in the prevention and treatment of heart disease and/or diabetes. Consuming them during pregnancy is great for the ladies with the babies in obtaining sufficient amounts of Folate needed to keep thoughts of neural tube defects out of their minds. The high levels of iron in this tasty pulse also keep any concerns for iron deficiencies at bay. Teamed up with a grain or rice dish, one can obtain a meal that is complete in all the essential amino acids that our bodies need but don’t produce. Also, since the… Read More

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