This post was sponsored by S&W Beans as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own

Beans are one of the most neglected and under-valued items in the store! There are so many ways you can eat beans and so many varieties like kidney, pinto, black, lima, black-eyed peas, garbanzo (chickpeas), split peas and lentils. We want to share why we eat beans and a simple recipe that makes an excellent side dish! 

5 Reasons Why Beans are the Modern Day Super Food

1. Help the HEART! Packed with a lot of fiber that lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels instead of potentially causing them to increase.  
2. Filled with rich nutrients that we don’t always get in our diet.  Packed with fiber, carbs, protein and also antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.  
3. Versatile- so many ways to cook beans.  Can be a main dish, side dish, appetizer, or snacks. For example~ chili, rice & beans, soup, and bean dip. 
4. Easy on the wallet.  You can get a can for under $1.00, and the recipes are endless! 
5. Cut Cancer risks. Recommended we consume 3 cups of per week to promote a healthy life.

I purchase S&W Beans which has the highest standards in the industry, delivering premium quality for over 120 years. A brand I trust! Plus they offer every bean I need plus some even out of the ordinary.  Better meals start with a better bean, and nobody does beans better than S&W, and picky cooks know it, too!  I can tell the difference if I use a different brand. 

Convenience is also a factor, who has time to make beans old school these days.  My husband used to soak beans for a day and then cook them but when I gave him the S&W Kidney Beans in a can he was able to make dinner under 30 minutes!  His favorite meal to make is fried chicken with beans over rice.  S&W Beans provide convenience for people that are time constrained and are seeking convenient and healthy food options. Perfect for the busy family!  Also, S&W offers additional bean varieties outside of the classic beans – such as their 50% less sodium and organic options.

Red Beans over Rice is super easy to make!  

• Chop up ONION, PEPPERS, MILD SAUSAGE LINK and GARLIC, then saute all that with a teaspoon of olive oil. Also, add any seasonings you want, we use garlic powder and salt. 
• Add two cans of S&W Kidney Beans. Reduce heat to low and let the mixture simmer slowly while you cook the rice.
• Start the rice ( we use a rice machine- it will take about 20 minutes)
• Then combine it all together on the plate- as a side dish. We usually have chicken wings and salmon with this meal. 

We have some exciting news for our readers: 

Coupon Offer: Now through April S&W Beans is offering $1 off 2 cans of S&W Beans. Get (and print) your coupon from the S&W Beans website: HERE

Make sure to keep up with all the deals and recipes so please follow S&W on Facebook–Twitter-Instagram-Pinterest