Edamame – The Healthy Snack

One of the hottest and healthiest snacks on the market today is edamame.

Enjoyed in East Asia for centuries, edamame is essentially green soybean pods that have been picked before they are ripe. Similar in appearance to pea pods, edamame pods are most often found in the frozen foods section of the supermarket, typically packed in microwavable containers that can be used to heat them. They can also be steamed, or boiled in lightly salted water.

After they are cooked, the beans are removed from the pods and eaten as an appetizer (the pods are discarded). The beans can also be shelled and added to salads or main dishes. Soybeans are an excellent source of vegetable protein and other important nutrients. A ½-cup serving of edamame beans (about 11/8 cups of whole pods) contains 120 calories and delivers 11 g of protein, 3.6 g of primarily healthy fats, 40 mg of vitamin C, 130 mg of vitamin A and 9 g of fi bre as well as iron, phosphorous and calcium. Next time you’ve got a hankering for a snack, forget the potato chips and pass the edamame.