Lentils: Packed with Good Taste and Good Nutrition

Lentils: Small But Mighty

Why this powerhouse pantry staple deserves a permanent spot in your meal plan.

Looking to make healthy eating easier, tastier, and more budget-friendly? Lentils check all the boxes. These humble little legumes are packed with protein, loaded with fiber, and bring a warm, earthy flavor to everything from soups and stews to salads and spreads.

Lentils have been nourishing humans for thousands of years—and for good reason. Archaeologists have found lentil seeds dating back 8,000 years in the Middle East. Whether you're following a plant-based lifestyle or just looking to add more whole foods to your meals, lentils are a smart and satisfying choice.

What Exactly Are Lentils?

Lentils are part of the legume family and grow in small pods, usually containing just one or two seeds. They're small, quick-cooking, and come in a rainbow of colors—green, brown, red, black, yellow, and orange. Some hold their shape beautifully (great for salads and soups), while others melt into creamy perfection for dips or dals.

And bonus: they don’t require pre-soaking like many other dried beans. Just rinse and cook!

Lentils & Heart Health

Looking for heart-smart foods? Lentils are high in fiber, folate, and magnesium, all of which support cardiovascular health. Magnesium helps keep your blood vessels relaxed and oxygen flowing, while folate works to lower levels of homocysteine, a risk factor for heart disease.

A long-term global study found that people who regularly ate legumes (like lentils) had up to 82% lower risk of dying from heart disease. That’s a number we can get behind.

Natural Energy Boosters

Feeling sluggish? Lentils are a plant-based source of iron, which helps transport oxygen throughout your body and keeps your energy levels up—without the saturated fat of red meat. They’re especially beneficial for women, pregnant people, and athletes who need extra iron in their diet.

Blood Sugar Support

Thanks to their high soluble fiber content, lentils help keep blood sugar levels stable, preventing the spikes and crashes that lead to cravings and fatigue. This makes them ideal for people with diabetes, insulin resistance, or hypoglycemia—and helpful for anyone trying to feel more balanced throughout the day.

Quick, Versatile & Budget-Friendly

Lentils are:

• Quick to cook (ready in about 20–30 minutes)

• Incredibly affordable

• Protein-packed

• Perfect for batch cooking

• Kid-friendly

• Great for Meatless Monday

Try swapping lentils for ground beef in tacos, shepherd’s pie, or spaghetti sauce. Or stir them into your favorite soup mix for a weeknight dinner that’s both wholesome and hearty.

Make Lentils a Pantry Staple

Looking for an easy place to start? Many of our soups have lentils which takes the guesswork out of healthy cooking— it's easy to make a filling meal with homemade flavor and no junky ingredients.

Indiana Harvest Sausage & Lentil Soup

Spiced & Sweet Butternut Squash & Lentil Soup

Minnesota Heartland Eleven Bean Soup

Chicago Bistro French Onion Soup