Beans do a lot more than you-know-what. A cup packs twice the protein of an egg and more fiber than broccoli! Tasty ways to serve 'em, from pediatrician Joanna Dolgoff, M.D., author of Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right:
Stock up on Hummus
Kids love this pureed-chickpea (aka garbanzo bean) dip, and it may also get them to eat veggies they wouldn't touch otherwise. Thin slices of red pepper and cucumbers, carrots (steamed until soft for little kids), and quartered cherry tomatoes are all delicious -- and fun -- dipped in hummus.
Build Some Burritos
Put out bowls of black beans, chopped tomatoes, avocado, lettuce, and shredded chicken and let your kids pile what they want onto a tortilla. Black beans are a delicious addition to cheese quesadillas, too.
Serve Them as a Side
Remember barbecues with pork and beans from your childhood? Baked beans (pinto beans in a sweet sauce) are a big hit with kids and make a great sidekick to any meat.
Stir Them into Soup
Puree a can of white beans, then mix it into a pot of tomato, potato, or vegetable soup.
Make a Bean Salad
Combine a can of black or white beans with olive oil, vinegar, and a squeeze of lemon. Add a little chopped red onion, a dash of salt and pepper, and any herbs your kid will tolerate to taste.