“Green Beans, or string beans as they are usually called, must be done [boiled] till very tender -- it takes nearly an hour and a half.” - Sarah Josepha Hale, The Good Housekeeper (1839)
Green beans have been a staple on dining room tables for hundreds of years. They often represent tradition (Green Bean Casserole, anyone?) and can bring back memories of popping off the tips while sitting on the porch with Grandma.
Five Fun Facts
- There are 130 varieties of green bean.
- The city of Blairsville, Georgia, hosts the Green Bean Festival every summer.
- Worldwide, green beans are one of the most popular garden plants.
- Native Americans planted green beans alongside corn so that the bean plant could climb the cornstalk.
- The longest known green bean ever cultivated was in North Carolina. It measured just past 4 feet in length!
Nutrition Info
Green beans are a good source of:
- Vitamin A
- B vitamins
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin K
- Magnesium
- Complex carbohydrates
Benefits
Green beans may be beneficial in the following ways:
- Repairing cell damage
- Keeping bones strong
- Helping reduce the risk for and managing diabetes
- Helping to reduce the risk for heart disease
Cautions
If you are on a blood thinner, be careful of consuming too many or too few green beans due to Vitamin K. Discuss your diet with your doctor.
Suggested Recipes
Lemon Pepper Green Beans - gluten-free, vegan, low-calorieIna Garten’s String Beans with Shallots - gluten-free, low-calorie
Cheesy Green Bean Casserole with Bacon - tradition with a twist!
Slow Cooker Green Beans and Potatoes - low fat, gluten-free
Garlic Parmesan Roasted Green Beans - gluten-free
For the Kids and Kids-at-Heart
Download this green beans coloring sheet to have some fun!
Credits and thanks in addition to recipes and information linked above: Dr. Axe; Campbells.com; Foodreference.com; JustFunFacts.com; Pixabay.com; ServingJoy.com; Tonsoffacts.com; VeryWellFit.com
Inclusion of a link does not imply WHF endorsement of all content at that link.