Baked beans... Good or bad for you

Tank_Girl

Thought id ask since being broke they are a staple part of my diet

Are they good or bad for you?

HannahPetch

Beans are a source of complex carbohydrates and therefore are low GI and good for releasing energy slowly over a long period.

However, baked beans in a tin are very high in sugar and salt which are most definitely NOT good for you.

Salt will slow weight loss and sugar gives you energy spikes and then dips which is a nightmare when trying to do say a long run.

Adding some kidney beans, borlotti, black beans, butter beans etc to a healthy stew is a great way of having a healthy meal, WITH carbs, but the right sort, not refined.

Hope this helps.

ValerieMartini2Olives

Just check how much sugar and/or salt is in it. Most canned foods are shockingly high in both. And read the ingredient list. Odds are it will have high fructose corn syrup in it or some other weird chemicals.

Tank_Girl

Looking at 2 different brands in my cupboard, these are the ingredients

Campo largo baked beans... Ingredients

Haricot beans 49%, tomatoes 27%, water, sugar, modified maize starch, salt, onion powder, paprika, flavouring.


Everyday essentials baked beans... Ingredients.

Haricot beans 44%, water, tomato puree 6%, sugar, glucose fructose syrup, modified maize starch, salt, onion powder, flavouring, paprika.


Surprising how much variation there is between 2 cans of baked beans

Acg67

Just check how much sugar and/or salt is in it. Most canned foods are shockingly high in both. And read the ingredient list. Odds are it will have high fructose corn syrup in it or some other weird chemicals.

You mean like quercetin 3,4'-diglucoside?

ipiddock

The later product being the cheap alternative no doubt! It's amazing isn't it. To make the product cheaper they just fill it with crap!

DawnieB1977

I eat baked beans quite a lot, but only 2 small spoonfuls. I think if you eat an entire tin it wouldn't be good for you, but as an addition to breakfast, or with a jacket potato for dinner or something, it's fine.

Tank_Girl

Looking at the same 2 tins

Campo largo (per half can)

Cals 137
Sugar 12g
Fat 1.1g
Sats 0.2g
Salt 2.1g

Everyday essentials (per half can)

Cals 175
Sugar 9.5g
fat 1.1g
Sats 0.2g
Salt 1.29g

tekwriter

I am no expert, but number 1 sounds best to me. Which one tastes better? A lot of losing weght is about portion control and exercise. Your budget is what is. Perhaps you can bump up the other two areas.

mabelbabel1

I love Baked Beans (Branston are fab!) but I daren't eat them very often as they make me crave sugar. They're the only food that seem to do this to me.

neanderthin

The later product being the cheap alternative no doubt! It's amazing isn't it. To make the product cheaper they just fill it with crap!

Sugar and salt is what people want and add some pork to those beans you almost have a balanced meal. Add a veg portion like pizza, then your gold.

geebusuk

You mean like quercetin 3,4'-diglucoside?

I had LOADS of that last night - suppose that's another 10lb of fat I'll have to get rid of!

:P

Not found a problem with salt or sugar - though more reasons to avoid simple carbs if you're not reasonably healthy in the first place, I believe.

Oh and 137 calories for half a tin isn't so bad.
The best in the UK is Sainsburys basics which come in at around 100 calories a tin - fair bit less than the reduced sugar ones etc.

Tank_Girl

The later product being the cheap alternative no doubt! It's amazing isn't it. To make the product cheaper they just fill it with crap!

There is very little difference in price! 9cent i think but i wont be buying the second brand again i dont think

sijomial

Good for you, possibly not so good for those around you.
Beanz meanz fartz.

1yoyoKAT

I started making my own baked beans to avoid the sugar and sodium in canned baked beans. You mentioned expense, making your own will also save you money. You can start from canned beans or dried beans, I start from dry and make them in the crock pot. You can vary the type of beans you use too. I have used great northern beans and navy beans so far. You can also make them to your taste this way. I use molasses, honey, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and mustard seed to season mine. I also throw in chopped turkey bacon and onions. Yum! Have fun with it! :drinker:

Tank_Girl

I am no expert, but number 1 sounds best to me. Which one tastes better? A lot of losing weght is about portion control and exercise. Your budget is what is. Perhaps you can bump up the other two areas.

Number 1 tastes better

ValerieMartini2Olives

Just check how much sugar and/or salt is in it. Most canned foods are shockingly high in both. And read the ingredient list. Odds are it will have high fructose corn syrup in it or some other weird chemicals.

You mean like quercetin 3,4'-diglucoside?

I had to look up what that was. Basically, let's take extracts from onions and flowers and chemicalize the hell out of them?

Malaika946

I say they are good as long as they fit in your calorie allownce and macros. At the beggining of each day we all get an allowance of sugar, fat, salt, protein etc. use it as you wish. I eat a lot of baked beans and eggs as they are cheap and basically very tasty.

KANGOOJUMPS

yum!

ValerieMartini2Olives

Good for you, possibly not so good for those around you.
Beanz meanz fartz.

I eat lots of beans. I don't get the toots.

redraidergirl2009

They are okay but nutrition and price wise black and pinto beans are better for you since they have less fat and sugar and are cheaper....