Besides protein, there is an abundance of nutritional value in beans. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, they have a high antioxidant value, the highest can be found in red, pinto, kidney and black beans.

There are four grams of soluble fiber and only 200 calories in a cup of cooked beans. That means they are beneficial in reducing blood cholesterol and good for the waistline. Beans are a rich source of vitamins and minerals, as well as low in sodium and fat. The digestibility of beans is greatly enhanced when serving them with a grain source, such as bread, tortillas and rice. The good news is that a pound of almost any kind of beans can be purchased for less than a dollar.

Cook one pot of beans in your crockpot and use it all week in different dishes.