My Peculiar Eating Habits - Black Bean Concoction

I have found that most of changing diet is about finding things that are fast and tasty. I like food too much to punish myself every day. This series will focus on habits I have formed that have allowed me to combine a ton of different dietary health activities into a single meal, easily. After a lot of research, I was a little overwhelmed by how many things I wanted to incorporate into my daily diet. Every item on the list below has some level of research and published studies supporting increased intake. However, if you go crazy on something like Nutritional Yeast, make sure you get a good brand with a good reputation and lab results for things like lead.

Every week I cook a pot of dry black beans (or lentils). Regular intake of legumes and fiber has a direct relationship with longevity and prevention of many diseases states. Throw a bunch (no, i don’t measure anything) of black beans in a pot (no you don’t have to soak over night), water to cover (make sure you keep adding water - I use Berkey filtered water), and boil for as long as you please (they will be soft in an hour). Then i return the beans to the fridge (usually still in the pot), and i can have them again for breakfast. I add these ingredients while its boiling or afterward on each bowl.

Note: I SAVE the water from the black beans (I eat some of it as the flax really thickens it, and some I save to start a soup). Water soluble anti-oxidants do remain in the water (this is true for a lot of veggies like broccoli).

While beans are boiling:

  • Peppercorns (whole and ground)

  • Turmeric (whole and ground)

  • Cumin, Cayenne, Marjoram, Chili Powder (herbs and spices have some of the highest amounts of anti-oxidants and other anti-carcinogenic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-neuro-degenerative properties)

  • Onion

  • Garlic (whole cloves + granules)

Toppings or stir in:

  • Ground Flaxseed (cold milled)

  • Nutritional Yeast (Get that B-12!)

  • Turmeric (powdered) & Pepper (Ground)

  • Jalapenos or other peppers

  • Cilantro, cilantro, cilantro

  • Green onion

  • Garlic (granules)

  • Marie Sharp’s hot sauce!!!

Jenna Geier