UK's Celebrity Chefs Urge Britons to Get Creative with Legumes as Food Prices Soar
Celebrity chefs, including Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, are joining forces with supermarkets like Lidl, Sainsbury's, and M&S to push the nation towards a bean-filled diet. The "Bang in Some Beans" campaign aims to double UK legume consumption by 2028, citing the environmental benefits and nutritional value of these plant-based powerhouses.
The call comes as the UK grapples with rising food prices and increasing disease rates linked to poor diets. With climate change exacerbating the issue, experts argue that incorporating more beans into meals is crucial for health, environment, and wallet-friendly living. Beans are a brilliant source of protein, fibre, and micronutrients, making them an attractive alternative to meat.
According to Food Foundation research, UK bean consumption needs to increase sevenfold to meet the Eat-Lancet's planetary health diet. One kilogram of beef requires 15,400 litres of water, while the same amount of beans uses a mere 5,000 litres.
Supermarkets are committing to increase their sales volume for legumes by significant margins. Lidl aims to boost bean product sales by 50% by 2028, while Sainsbury's and M&S plan to do the same with ambient bean products. Waitrose and Ocado have also pledged to advertise more legumes to customers.
The Bang in Some Beans campaign is not just about increasing consumption but also promoting creativity in cooking with beans. It encourages people to explore new recipes from around the world, whether it's chilis, stews, curries, or dips. The Food Foundation is seeking more businesses to join the initiative, aiming to make legumes a staple in every household.
As Rebecca Tobi, head of food business transformation at the Food Foundation, puts it: "Beans are a win-win-win for our health, environment, and wallets." With two-thirds of Britons eating less than one portion of beans per week, the campaign is urging people to get creative and make legumes an integral part of their diet.
Celebrity chefs, including Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, are joining forces with supermarkets like Lidl, Sainsbury's, and M&S to push the nation towards a bean-filled diet. The "Bang in Some Beans" campaign aims to double UK legume consumption by 2028, citing the environmental benefits and nutritional value of these plant-based powerhouses.
The call comes as the UK grapples with rising food prices and increasing disease rates linked to poor diets. With climate change exacerbating the issue, experts argue that incorporating more beans into meals is crucial for health, environment, and wallet-friendly living. Beans are a brilliant source of protein, fibre, and micronutrients, making them an attractive alternative to meat.
According to Food Foundation research, UK bean consumption needs to increase sevenfold to meet the Eat-Lancet's planetary health diet. One kilogram of beef requires 15,400 litres of water, while the same amount of beans uses a mere 5,000 litres.
Supermarkets are committing to increase their sales volume for legumes by significant margins. Lidl aims to boost bean product sales by 50% by 2028, while Sainsbury's and M&S plan to do the same with ambient bean products. Waitrose and Ocado have also pledged to advertise more legumes to customers.
The Bang in Some Beans campaign is not just about increasing consumption but also promoting creativity in cooking with beans. It encourages people to explore new recipes from around the world, whether it's chilis, stews, curries, or dips. The Food Foundation is seeking more businesses to join the initiative, aiming to make legumes a staple in every household.
As Rebecca Tobi, head of food business transformation at the Food Foundation, puts it: "Beans are a win-win-win for our health, environment, and wallets." With two-thirds of Britons eating less than one portion of beans per week, the campaign is urging people to get creative and make legumes an integral part of their diet.
I'm not sure if increasing bean consumption by 7x is a realistic goal tho 
. Like, what's the point of eating more beans every day for 7 years straight? Can't we just have some variety in our meals? 
And what about people who can't cook that well? 
Won't they be stuck eating the same old legume recipes forever? 
think about this - we're in a world where food prices are sky-rocketing and our health's going downhill 
but instead of reaching for more meat, these chefs & supermarkets are saying "hey let's go plant-based" 
it makes sense, right? beans are like the ultimate superfood 
they're water-efficient, protein-rich, and full of fibre 
so why not give them a chance? 
. Where's the concrete evidence that people actually want to cook more beans and not just buy them pre-cooked and canned? And what about all the other factors contributing to rising food prices? Are we really just gonna blame it on our bean-eating habits? 
gotta be more creative w/ them in the kitchen like tryin out diff spice combos or addin some heat w/ chilis or summat 
supermarket support is key tho, especially wit lidl & co on board, 50% increase by 2028 sounds legit 
. I mean think about it, beans are basically a superfood right? they're packed with protein fibre and all these other nutrients that our bodies need to function properly. and the environmental impact is so minimal compared to meat 
. I'm loving this "Bang in Some Beans" campaign though - it's like finally someone is calling us out on our bean-phobic ways 
. i mean, come on guys, get creative with beans! try some new recipes, experiment with different spices and herbs... the possibilities are endless 
.
I remember when we were all about veggie burgers and 'meat alternatives'... now it's beans everywhere! 
Still, gotta give those celebs credit for pushing us towards a more bean-filled life. Who knew beans could be so enviro-friendly? 
And let's not forget the health benefits - my mum used to say that beans were good for the heart... I guess we were right all along! 
I mean, who wouldn't want to save water and money while being healthier? 15,400 litres for a kilogram of beef vs 5,000 litres for beans is insane! 
Let's get cooking and make beans the new superfood 
️! The fact that celeb chefs are on board to promote legume powerhouses like beans is a huge win for our planet 
. Double UK legume consumption by 2028? Challenge accepted! 
Can't wait to see more creative recipes popping up on social media, especially those from around the world 
- beans are literally a superfood for our planet. With supermarkets committing to increase their legume sales by 50%, I'm hyped to see more affordable and sustainable options in stores soon 
and now were being told to eat more beans lol but seriously who wouldn't wanna eat more beans theyre literally a superfood 
with protein fibre and micronutrients galore! i mean ive been eating lentils for years and i feel like my body is thanking me 
jamie oliver and hugh fearnley-whittingstall are the best 
one kg of beef uses 15k litres of water while a kilo of beans only needs 5k lol talk about a water-saving win 
️
. We need to see more initiatives that bring people together, like cooking classes or community events, to make legumes accessible to everyone. And have you noticed how the big supermarkets are partnering with celebrity chefs? That's just a clever marketing ploy 
️.