LENTILS ARE PART OF A GROUP OF FOODS

that rest solely on their health benefits. These foods may not win any beauty contests, but they stay in the food chain rotation because they’re nutritious, versatile, and economical. If you’re still not convinced you should be eating them, check out their health stats, below.

Lentils are edible seeds from the legume family and because they’re so small they don’t need presoaking like other beans do, and cook in as little as ten minutes or up to forty-five — not bad since beans can take hours.

Before cooking, sort and rinse lentils to remove pebbles or clumps of dirt. Spread them on a baking sheet and sift through them with your fingers. You may not find much, but it’s best to be on the safe side.