Vegetarian Lunch Ideas: Using Baked Beans | Suite101.com

Using Vegetarian Baked Beans To Make Great Lunches - Google Images: Bushes Best(R) Vegetarian Baked Beans

There is nothing simpler, healthier and cheaper than using baked beans in place of salad dressing. They also add protein to the vegetarian diet.

Vegetables can be bland, so sometimes we use too much salt or pour too much dressing over them. Sometimes we don?t feel full or we crave more protein. Baked beans are an amazing, healthy addition to a salad and substite for salad dressing.

Baked Bean and Raw Vegetable Lunch

Baked beans are inexpensive, a good source of protein, and their taste and texture make vegetables sweeter and more interesting to eat. They can add to the bulk of a vegetable salad and provide a sweet substitute for salad dressing.

Contrary to what you would expect, the vegetables seem easier to digest in combination with the beans. This may not be true for everyone ? in my case I believe that, because the veggies taste better, I chew them longer.

According to DietFacts.com, the ingredients in Bushes Best? Vegetarian Baked beans are:

• Prepared white beans, water, brown sugar, sugar, tomato paste, salt, corn starch, mustard (water, vinegar, mustard seed, salt, turmeric, spices), onion powder, spices, extractive of paprika, garlic powder and natural flavor.

Bushes beans are only 130 calories for ? cup and are high in fiber, protein and iron. The beans contain no fat. There are other brands of baked beans that are vegetarian, but since I have not tried them yet, Bushes beans are specified in the recipe.

The Recipe:

This makes a small lunch. For a larger lunch, simply add more beans and vegetables.

Ingredients:

• 2 TB molasses
• 1 bunch green onions
• 1 bell pepper any color
• 5 Roma tomatoes
• 1 large cucumber
• 1 carrot
• Smooth leafed spinach
• One 28 oz. can of Bushes Best? Vegetarian Baked Beans

(You can substitute or add more vegetables of your own choice. Each week I change the veggies for some variety in diet.)

1. Open can of vegetarian baked beans; with lid partially open, pour off extra sauce.
2. Pour beans into a medium-size mixing bowl.
3. Add two tablespoons of molasses and mix with beans.
4. Divide beans as evenly as possible into five 1-cup size plastic containers.
5. Chop or cut the vegetables (or chop just enough of the vegetables for each day to keep them fresher).
6. Line the bottom of each lunch size container with the spinach leaves.
7. Divide the rest of the chopped veggies evenly into the five containers.

Putting Your Lunch Together

You may refrigerate the vegetables, but let the beans warm to room temperature. Spoon the beans over the vegetables as if it were salad dressing. Don't pour all of the beans over the vegetables at once. Eat as you would a salad, mixing beans in gradually with vegetable chunks as you eat.

Protein ?Loaded? Baked Potato

One medium baked potato has about 160 calories, is rich in potassium and provides 23% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C. We ruin this healthy vegetable by covering it with cheese, sour cream, milk, butter and just about anything as full of fat as we can.

We do this because baked potatoes are dry. They are just like tofu and eggplant. They must be combined with something oily or liquid to make them more palatable. What other alternative is there to cover a baked potato?

I discovered that baked beans taste heavenly combined with a baked potato when I was at a famous barbeque restaurant. I wanted to avoid meat, so I just ordered the sides, which were baked potato and baked beans.

I received a baked potato the size of a cantaloupe - I am exaggerating, but only a little. Not knowing what to do, I mixed a little bit of the beans and the sauce of the beans into each bite of the potato. It was fabulous. It resulted in the shortest and easiest vegetarian lunch idea I have ever had.

Recipe for Baked Bean Loaded Baked Potato

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup Bushes Vegetarian Baked Beans
• 1 large baked potato

1. Pour heated or room temperature baked beans over baked potato.
2. Eat with a green vegetable or green salad on the side.

Vegetarian Lunch Ideas ? How to use Baked Beans for an Inexpensive and Filling Lunch

Enjoy your vegetables or baked potato covered with sweet and filling baked beans. These simple and inexpensive meals can add variety and spice to a vegetarian, vegan or regular diet.

Note: Busches Best? Vegetarian Baked Beans are kosher.

Copyright C. Marie . Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

Source: http://c-marie.suite101.com/vegetarian-lunch-ideas--using-baked-beans-a388409

ellie goulding ginger michigan football michigan football aron ralston aron ralston grandparents day