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A quick Google search reveals that beans are not a complete, since they lack several essential amino acids. Edit: correction, it appears that soybeans are the

A quick Google search reveals that beans are not a complete, since they lack several essential amino acids. Edit: correction, it appears that soybeans are the exception. But when one thinks of having a serving of "beans and rice", soybeans are unlikely to be the bean served.

forgetfulness 4y ago
That's why it's the beans+rice combination that's complete, because they're complementary in composition. But the truth is that you don't need to eat them in the same meal, and most people don't have a shortage of grain in their diets if they aren't going out of their way to make it so. Porridge in the morning and lentils at lunch and you've done it.
bch 4y ago
beans != beans + rice; See also: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33564109 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33564109
- sometimeshuman 4y ago
  My mistake, I had blindly dismissed rice since it is commonly known to be a nutrient poor food. But several sources confirm the parent post and your comment are correct*. It's also too often repeated that a vegetable based diets will be lacking essential amino acids which seems like a gross falsehood now if you can get there with two wildly available plants that make up a common low-cost meal. I am baffled by the disconnect. *I don't cite the source since I am unsure if there are caveats or if the claim is controversial.
  - stonemetal12 4y ago
    I think the disconnect is that for meat you don't have to think about it. When it comes to plants, suddenly you have to know something about what you are eating. There are plenty of plant diets that are viable, you just have to research a little bit. Everyone always mentions beans and rice, but Potatoes by themselves are a complete protein. Some of the essential amino acids aren't found in high quantities in potatoes, so you have to eat a lot of them if you go that route. They are missing some vitamins and minerals as well, so you have to add sweet potatoes if you don't want scurvy.
wrycoder 4y ago
Pinto beans and rice are complete, for example. The amino acid deficiencies are complementary.
sannee 4y ago
Surely you can just eat more beans until you get enough methionine to satisfy your protein synthesis needs. We are not (yet, in the western world) at the point of having to eat a starvation diet (where the amino acid profile is actually important, since you are trying to eat as little as possible).

forgetfulness 4y ago

That's why it's the beans+rice combination that's complete, because they're complementary in composition. But the truth is that you don't need to eat them in the same meal, and most people don't have a shortage of grain in their diets if they aren't going out of their way to make it so. Porridge in the morning and lentils at lunch and you've done it.

bch 4y ago

beans != beans + rice; See also: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33564109 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33564109

sometimeshuman 4y ago
My mistake, I had blindly dismissed rice since it is commonly known to be a nutrient poor food. But several sources confirm the parent post and your comment are correct*. It's also too often repeated that a vegetable based diets will be lacking essential amino acids which seems like a gross falsehood now if you can get there with two wildly available plants that make up a common low-cost meal. I am baffled by the disconnect. *I don't cite the source since I am unsure if there are caveats or if the claim is controversial.
- stonemetal12 4y ago
  I think the disconnect is that for meat you don't have to think about it. When it comes to plants, suddenly you have to know something about what you are eating. There are plenty of plant diets that are viable, you just have to research a little bit. Everyone always mentions beans and rice, but Potatoes by themselves are a complete protein. Some of the essential amino acids aren't found in high quantities in potatoes, so you have to eat a lot of them if you go that route. They are missing some vitamins and minerals as well, so you have to add sweet potatoes if you don't want scurvy.

wrycoder 4y ago

Pinto beans and rice are complete, for example. The amino acid deficiencies are complementary.

sannee 4y ago

Surely you can just eat more beans until you get enough methionine to satisfy your protein synthesis needs. We are not (yet, in the western world) at the point of having to eat a starvation diet (where the amino acid profile is actually important, since you are trying to eat as little as possible).