Motivating Pulse-Centric Eating Patterns to Benefit Human and Environmental Well-Being

Abstract

Pulses (e.g., lentil, common bean, chickpea, and dry pea) are linked to a myriad of positive human and environmental health impacts, making them an ideal food for wise and conscientious global citizens. In addition, pulses are affordable and shelf-stable. The combination of these factors, an elevated consumer interest in plant-based diets, and the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in increased purchasing of pulses and even empty grocery store shelves. Although pulses have many associated benefits, some consumers are hesitant to regularly eat pulses, claiming concerns of abdominal discomfort or a lack of knowledge on how to best prepare pulses. To capitalize on increased consumer interest and purchasing of pulses, now is the time for outreach efforts that address these concerns and the positive outcomes associated with pulses, thereby promoting public and environmental health. Consumers must actively decide to add pulses to their grocery lists and incorporate them into their regular eating patterns. Motivation to adopt new eating habits is essential because knowledge alone does not result in behavior change. Thus, to mitigate perceived barriers and drive consumption, we suggest application of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model and emphasis of three main benefits of pulses as motivators: (1) culinary versatility, (2) sustainability, and (3) healthfulness.

Compositional Changes of the High-Fat Diet-Induced Gut Microbiota upon Consumption of Common Pulses

“…Improvement of dietary behaviors may benefit from the promotion of "novel superfoods" that provide ease of consumption, health benefits, and sustainability, and therefore fit well into the contemporary way of life [4]. Nevertheless, everything new is a well-forgotten old: pulses, a candidate category of superfoods, are nutritious, healthful, economical, ecologically sustainable, and gastronomically diverse foods that have been consumed by people across the globe for over ten millennia [5].…”

Defining Nutritional and Functional Niches of Legumes: A Call for Clarity to Distinguish a Future Role for Pulses in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans

“…It would advantageous for the DGA to make distinctions among the different types of legumes, clearly highlighting the nutritional differences between oilseed legumes, undried legumes (e.g., snap beans or snap peas), and pulses (e.g., chickpeas, cowpeas, dry beans, dry peas, and lentils) such that nutrition and health care professionals can make appropriate recommendations to advance the health of their clients and the general public. With the current lack of clarity, incorporation of pulses into eating patterns across the lifespan may be diminished not because consumers are unwilling to eat pulses but because the DGA and health care professionals fail to give clear, specific guidance [ 22 ]. Distinction among different legumes and consistent use of terminology is essential to avoid public confusion, promote directed research (e.g., on food consumption patterns via pulse-specific food frequency questionnaires), and allow us to capitalize on the benefits that unique subgroups of legumes—such as pulses—have to offer.…”

Exploring the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Eating and Purchasing Behaviours of People Living in England

“…The global impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic could be seen in all areas of public health, such as the human, medical, biological, and social sciences, and has led consumers to have higher preference for organic foods, legumes, seafoods, fruits, and vegetables [ 6 , 7 ]. Consumers have been reported to now choose diets more to be safe and healthy than for any other reasons, such as environmental sustainability and improving personal appearance [ 8 ].…”