Asian Roasted Green Beans Recipe (Paleo, Whole30, Vegan) (2024)

FAQs

Are green beans OK on Paleo? ›

Some of you might be saying, "green beans aren't Paleo; they're a legume!" This is correct, green beans are a legume, but they fall into a gray area of Paleo. In a nutshell, fresh peas, green beans, and sugar snap peas contain very minimal amounts of the potential negative constituents found in most other legumes.

Originally, all legumes were off-limits in the Whole30 diet. However, upon recent scientific data, the guidelines have been altered a bit. According to the official Whole30 website, green beans and most forms of peas are now permitted in a Whole30 compliant diet.

The beans change slightly across different varieties – yellow or wax beans have an ever so slightly milder flavour and are a beautiful pastel yellow colour, French beans or haricot vert are a finer, less stringy version, and the yard-long bean (aka snake bean or Chinese long bean) are, you guessed it, a longer variety.

This group of paleo in Miami enthusiasts believe that legumes, including green beans, contain lectins and phytic acid that can be harmful to our gut health and should be avoided on a paleo plan.

Cooking, especially with wet high-heat methods like boiling or stewing, or soaking in water for several hours, can inactivate most lectins. [6] Lectins are water-soluble and typically found on the outer surface of a food, so exposure to water removes them. An example is dried beans.

Whole30 doesn't allow beans based on the idea that they contain "anti-nutrients" like phytates. Phytates are compounds found in plants that can potentially block the body's absorption of important minerals like magnesium, iron, and calcium.

What about bananas? Yes, both pickles and bananas are allowed on Whole30. Yet if they are a potential trigger food for you (for instance, the sweetness of bananas sets off a craving for other treats or makes you want to binge on the fruit), then you may consider including them on your “don't eat” list.

Remember: While following the Whole30 program, it's important to maintain diversity in your diet and "eat the rainbow," so incorporate red bell peppers, purple cauliflower, and a variety of other colorful veggies into your Whole30 food list, says Beacom.

If your recipe happens to call for Italian green beans, these are the best canned green beans. Del Monte is the brand that makes the most appearances on this list, but if you're looking for French style green beans, go for Great Value. They're less salty and more substantial than Del Monte.

Nutrition Comparison: Green Bean Vs Peas

Green bean has 62% less calories than pea. Green bean has more alpha-carotene than pea, however, pea contains more lutein + zeaxanthin than green bean. Both green bean and peas are high in Vitamin C, dietary fiber and potassium. Green bean has 52% less carbohydrates than pea.

What is the best green bean to eat? ›

French green beans, also called Haricots Verts, tend to be smaller, more tender, and quicker to cook. Their seeds are so small that they're almost unnoticeable. For these reasons, French green beans are generally considered the best green beans to buy, and they're priced accordingly.

Legumes are members of a large family of plants that have a seed or pod. This category includes all beans, peas, lentils, tofu and other soy foods, and peanuts. This also includes peanut butter and soy sauce. Legumes are not allowed on paleo because of their high content of lectins and phytic acid.

Fill up your cart with any and all vegetables; from broccoli, cauliflower, peppers and carrots to lettuce, kale, and avocado…the list goes on and on! Of course, any and all fruits are welcome on the paleo diet including apples, oranges, pears, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and more.

Also, any legume that is traditionally eaten raw or with the pod, such as peas, green beans, snow peas, sugar snap peas, and scarlet runner beans, are typically included on the Paleo Diet due to their much lower concentrations of problematic compounds and higher nutritive value (see The Green Bean Controversy and Pea- ...