Legumes. Beans. High calories.

bellabonbons
bellabonbons Posts: 705 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I don't eat meat. My calorie range is 1200 to 1350 per day. I have 37 to lose. Trying to come up with some great protein ideas other than eggs. Love beans but 1/4 cup of garbanzo beans is 180 calories. I also include cottage. Since MFP is saturated with do many devoted and knowledgeable members who are eager to support and help, I am taking a break right now from a huge stack of paperwork to ask you all. Thank you!

Replies

  • jaga13
    jaga13 Posts: 1,149 Member
    Why is it a problem that beans are 180 calories? If you were eating chicken, that would be a typical calorie count for your protein.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    All food has calories. Portion carefully. All you can do to lower calories by volume is to either blow it up with air (popcorn) or add water. So soups. You could eat a lot of soups.

    A single egg is just as calorific as any other protein. You can add volume to eggs too the same way, by whipping the whites in to a frenzy.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,864 Member
    edited February 2016
    Where are you getting that calorie count from...it seems high to me...I make all of my beans from dried and according to USDA 1/2 cup cooked of most legumes I've prepared is around 120 calories.
  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Where are you getting that calorie count from...it seems high to me...I make all of my beans from dried and according to USDA 1/2 cup cooked of most legumes I've prepared is around 120 calories.

    IIRC Garbanzos are slightly higher in fat than other bean varieties...which is why they make for a delicious hummus!

    Maybe switch out garbanzos for black beans where possible (slightly lower in calories and higher in protein). Seitan, tofu, some nuts, or vegan protein powders can be other sources of protein for non-meat eaters as well.
  • NaturalNancy
    NaturalNancy Posts: 1,093 Member
    Tofu! So good and cheap, sautéed with onions or leeks and spinach w soy sauce lol
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,864 Member
    edited February 2016
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Where are you getting that calorie count from...it seems high to me...I make all of my beans from dried and according to USDA 1/2 cup cooked of most legumes I've prepared is around 120 calories.

    IIRC Garbanzos are slightly higher in fat than other bean varieties...which is why they make for a delicious hummus!

    Maybe switch out garbanzos for black beans where possible (slightly lower in calories and higher in protein). Seitan, tofu, some nuts, or vegan protein powders can be other sources of protein for non-meat eaters as well.

    Ahh...makes sense. I don't think I've ever had garbanzo beans for anything other than hummus and I know my wife adds oil...didn't know they were actually fattier. Interesting.

    OP...tofu and other soy products are often a go to for vegetarian protein.
  • bellabonbons
    bellabonbons Posts: 705 Member
    jaga13 wrote: »
    Why is it a problem that beans are 180 calories? If you were eating chicken, that would be a typical calorie count for your protein.

    The problem is that only 1/4 cup is 180 calories. Doesn't quite seem enough having only 1/4 cup.
  • bellabonbons
    bellabonbons Posts: 705 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Where are you getting that calorie count from...it seems high to me...I make all of my beans from dried and according to USDA 1/2 cup cooked of most legumes I've prepared is around 120 calories.

    IIRC Garbanzos are slightly higher in fat than other bean varieties...which is why they make for a delicious hummus!

    Maybe switch out garbanzos for black beans where possible (slightly lower in calories and higher in protein). Seitan, tofu, some nuts, or vegan protein powders can be other sources of protein for non-meat eaters as well.

    Ahh...makes sense. I don't think I've ever had garbanzo beans for anything other than hummus and I know my wife adds oil...didn't know they were actually fattier. Interesting.

    OP...tofu and other soy products are often a go to for vegetarian protein.

    Thanks guys !! What is Seitan?
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
    I don't eat meat. My calorie range is 1200 to 1350 per day. I have 37 to lose. Trying to come up with some great protein ideas other than eggs. Love beans but 1/4 cup of garbanzo beans is 180 calories. I also include cottage. Since MFP is saturated with do many devoted and knowledgeable members who are eager to support and help, I am taking a break right now from a huge stack of paperwork to ask you all. Thank you!

    @bellabonbons That must be the calories in dry garbanzo beans. Here is the information for one cup of cooked garbanzo beans. It's more like 66 calories in a 1/4 cup:

    http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/legumes-and-legume-products/4326/2
  • bellabonbons
    bellabonbons Posts: 705 Member
    Tofu! So good and cheap, sautéed with onions or leeks and spinach w soy sauce lol

    I remember tofu well actually I ate a lot of it until I went to a seminar with my late husband who wad a physician and some of the doctors were talking about tofu and they weren't quite sure we should be eating it because of estrogen receptors. But that was a few years ago. I went on the physicians a responsible medicine and did a little research and now they are finding that tofu is no longer a concern and that in Japan where tofu is eaten a lot there is a low cancer rate. OK back to tofu it is. Hmmm, sautéed with onions spinach and soy sauce. It is now on my grocery list.
  • NaturalNancy
    NaturalNancy Posts: 1,093 Member
    Seitan or TVP - Texturized Vegetable Protein I think lol it's a soy product, the texture is meaty.
  • williams969
    williams969 Posts: 2,528 Member
    Garbanzo beans are ~120 cal per 1/2 cup. Most legumes are around the same. Double check the label of yours, perhaps there's a mistake somewhere.
    jaga13 wrote: »
    Why is it a problem that beans are 180 calories? If you were eating chicken, that would be a typical calorie count for your protein.

    The problem is that only 1/4 cup is 180 calories. Doesn't quite seem enough having only 1/4 cup.

  • williams969
    williams969 Posts: 2,528 Member
    Seitan or TVP - Texturized Vegetable Protein I think lol it's a soy product, the texture is meaty.

    Yes, TVP is a soy product. Seitan is cooked wheat gluten, which is the protein containing component of wheat, very high in protein.
  • bellabonbons
    bellabonbons Posts: 705 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Where are you getting that calorie count from...it seems high to me...I make all of my beans from dried and according to USDA 1/2 cup cooked of most legumes I've prepared is around 120 calories.

    IIRC Garbanzos are slightly higher in fat than other bean varieties...which is why they make for a delicious hummus!

    Maybe switch out garbanzos for black beans where possible (slightly lower in calories and higher in protein). Seitan, tofu, some nuts, or vegan protein powders can be other sources of protein for non-meat eaters as well.

    It's on the back of the wild oats organic garbanzo beans package: 1/4 cup dry - 180 calories. I will check calorie content of the other beans that is being recommended. Thanks!
  • bellabonbons
    bellabonbons Posts: 705 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Where are you getting that calorie count from...it seems high to me...I make all of my beans from dried and according to USDA 1/2 cup cooked of most legumes I've prepared is around 120 calories.

    On the back of The wild oats organic bag it says 1/4 cup is 180 calories. I will check other beans. One half cup of cooked for 120 cal is much better! Thanks.
  • williams969
    williams969 Posts: 2,528 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Where are you getting that calorie count from...it seems high to me...I make all of my beans from dried and according to USDA 1/2 cup cooked of most legumes I've prepared is around 120 calories.

    IIRC Garbanzos are slightly higher in fat than other bean varieties...which is why they make for a delicious hummus!

    Maybe switch out garbanzos for black beans where possible (slightly lower in calories and higher in protein). Seitan, tofu, some nuts, or vegan protein powders can be other sources of protein for non-meat eaters as well.

    It's on the back of the wild oats organic garbanzo beans package: 1/4 cup dry - 180 calories. I will check calorie content of the other beans that is being recommended. Thanks!

    Ahh, I see. Those are dry/raw. A 1/4 cup uncooked will become much bigger when cooked, from absorbing the water it's cooked in. That portion will be more like 3/4 cup once cooked.
  • bellabonbons
    bellabonbons Posts: 705 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    All food has calories. Portion carefully. All you can do to lower calories by volume is to either blow it up with air (popcorn) or add water. So soups. You could eat a lot of soups.

    A single egg is just as calorific as any other protein. You can add volume to eggs too the same way, by whipping the whites in to a frenzy.
    Great idea! Thanks.
  • bellabonbons
    bellabonbons Posts: 705 Member
    lithezebra wrote: »
    I don't eat meat. My calorie range is 1200 to 1350 per day. I have 37 to lose. Trying to come up with some great protein ideas other than eggs. Love beans but 1/4 cup of garbanzo beans is 180 calories. I also include cottage. Since MFP is saturated with do many devoted and knowledgeable members who are eager to support and help, I am taking a break right now from a huge stack of paperwork to ask you all. Thank you!

    @bellabonbons That must be the calories in dry garbanzo beans. Here is the information for one cup of cooked garbanzo beans. It's more like 66 calories in a 1/4 cup:

    http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/legumes-and-legume-products/4326/2

    Thank you. A huge help !!!
  • bellabonbons
    bellabonbons Posts: 705 Member
    Seitan or TVP - Texturized Vegetable Protein I think lol it's a soy product, the texture is meaty.

    Yes, TVP is a soy product. Seitan is cooked wheat gluten, which is the protein containing component of wheat, very high in protein.

    Thank you. I am always blown away at how helpful and how fast people respond here. In a very short time you are loaded with solid information they would take hours to research on the Internet. Thank you ! XO
  • bellabonbons
    bellabonbons Posts: 705 Member
    For cooking your own garbanzos from dry, I usually use this entry and weigh afterward...
    dh45xivs7iw2.png

    I left the cup serving showing in the drop down, but it does have gram servings also.

    Servings listed on packages tend to be "as is". So in your case, what shows on your bag would be for dry beans.

    Super, super helpful I'm so glad I asked. I was about to decide not to eat it garbanzo beans again. I love their buttery nutty taste!
    Thank you all ! XO
This discussion has been closed.