Bean facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Beans |
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Beans are amazing seeds that come from different plants. Most of these plants belong to a special family called legumes. Legumes are plants that grow their seeds in pods. Beans are super healthy! They are packed with fibre and protein, which are important for your body to grow strong and stay healthy.
Contents
What Are Beans?
Beans are the seeds of certain plants, especially those in the Fabaceae family. This family is also known as the legume family. Plants in this group grow their seeds inside a pod. Think of a pea pod or a green bean pod – the peas and beans inside are the seeds!
Some common types of beans you might know include:
These plants are grown all over the world. People have been eating beans for thousands of years because they are easy to grow and very nutritious.
Why Are Beans Good for You?
Beans are a fantastic food choice, especially for growing kids and teens. They are full of good things your body needs:
- Fibre: Beans have a lot of fibre. Fibre helps your digestive system work well and keeps you feeling full.
- Protein: They are also high in protein. Protein is super important for building and repairing your muscles, skin, and other body parts. It helps you grow big and strong!
- Other Nutrients: Beans also contain important vitamins and minerals like iron, folate, and potassium. These help your body have energy and stay healthy.
Eating beans can give you lots of energy for school, sports, and all your activities.
Not All "Beans" Are Legumes
It can be a bit confusing, but not everything called a "bean" is actually a legume. Some plants have seeds that look like true beans, so people call them beans too. But they don't belong to the Fabaceae family.
Examples of these "look-alike" beans include:
- Coffee beans: These are the seeds from the coffee plant, used to make coffee.
- Cocoa beans: These come from the cacao tree and are used to make chocolate.
- Vanilla beans: These are the fruit pods of the vanilla orchid, used for flavouring.
So, while they are all called "beans," only the ones from the legume family are true beans.
Important Safety Note
Most beans that we eat are safe and healthy. However, it's important to know that not all plants in the legume family are safe to eat. Some, like Laburnum plants, are very poisonous. Even some types of lupins can be harmful. Always make sure you only eat beans that you know are safe and meant for food. Never eat wild plants or seeds unless an adult who knows about plants tells you they are safe.
Images for kids
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Bean pods on a plant
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Bean plant
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Field beans (broad beans, Vicia faba), ready for harvest
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Beans in a pod
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Baked beans on toast (with egg)
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The Beaneater (1580–1590) by Annibale Carracci
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Types of beans in a supermarket
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This figure shows the grams of fiber and protein per 100 gram serving of each legume. The size of the circle is proportional to its iron content. From this view, lentil and kidney beans contain the most and soybeans and peas have the least nutrients per serving.
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Lablab bean and bean flower cultivated in West Bengal, India
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Bean flower in Jamalpur, Mymensingh, Bangladesh
See also
In Spanish: Frijol para niños
