Food Behaviors, Health, and Bean Nutrition Awareness among Low-Income Men: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Bean consumption is known to lower blood cholesterol and postprandial blood glucose. With higher chronic disease risk, low-income men could theoretically benefit from increased bean intakes. The study objective was to explore low-income men’s food behaviors, bean health benefit awareness, and bean consumption practices and preferences. Seventy-one low-income men aged 18–65 years (µ 41 ± 12.7; 53% white, 16% black, 31% Hispanic) completed a survey on health risks, food behaviors, bean health knowledge, attitudes toward dry and canned beans, and bean preferences. Eighty-seven percent had one or more health risk factors of physical inactivity, smoking, or obesity. Most men compared food prices, and thought about healthy food choices for their families, but few planned meals or read nutrition facts labels. White men had significantly higher bean health benefit knowledge than black or Hispanic men (p < 0.01). Most men liked the taste of beans, disagreed dry beans took too long to prepare, and 79% ate them at least 2–3 times per month. Forty-nine percent agreed beans caused intestinal gas. Improving men’s awareness of the health benefits of beans as well as leveraging existing positive attitudes may be useful approaches to increase bean consumption among low-income and minority male populations.

Pulse Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Cooking Experience of Midwestern US University Students

“…Analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2002 data shows bean consumers have a higher intake of dietary fiber compared to those who do not consume beans [ 35 ]. As with the college students in this study, other research supports that most people have a positive attitude toward beans/pulses, like the taste of them, and purchase both dry and canned [ 18 , 28 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ]. Black beans, lentils, pinto beans, and chickpeas were the most common types of pulses cooked, which is similar to pulse popularity found in other studies in North America [ 11 , 18 , 19 , 28 , 36 ].…”

“…The preoccupation with pulses and gas may be somewhat exaggerated, and transitory at best [ 41 ]. Other studies suggest the public is unaware of positive intestinal health benefits from pulses or high fiber foods [ 37 , 42 ].…”

“…Similar research conducted with participants of an older age and greater ethnic/racial diversity than the Midwestern US college students showed higher pulse consumption rates. Eighty percent of Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White women in Iowa [ 28 , 42 ], 89% of Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White women in Arizona [ 36 ], and 79% of low-income White, Black, and Hispanic men in Arizona [ 37 ] reported consuming beans at least 2–3 times per month. Just over half of adults ≥65 years old in a Canadian study reported consuming beans on a daily or weekly basis [ 39 ].…”

“…Knowledge of dry pulse preparation for these college students in the Midwestern US was lower compared to some other US studies. Eighty percent of low-income men and 90% of low-income women in Arizona [ 36 , 37 ] reported knowing know how to prepare dry beans. Florida participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) were confident in their ability to cook dry beans [ 38 ].…”

Putting Knowledge into Practice: Low-Income Women Talk about Food Choice Decisions

“…Further investigation into the role low-income women have in grocery shopping and household food choice is needed to gauge whether their apparent level of control is accurate or overestimated. While women are perceived to be the gatekeepers of what a family eats, male partners often share responsibility and show interest in healthy food behaviors related to grocery shopping [44]. For some families, children were often present for grocery shopping and had considerable influence on what was purchased.…”