Calories in Green Beans
Green beans, are good for us. If you are going crazy at the thought of putting on weight, as these common beans are delightfully low in calories. These common beans are called Phaseolus vulgaris in botanical terms. There are many types of green beans, but the most common ones, which are referred to as green beans, are French beans. Green beans is an exclusively American name. Now you must be wondering why am I telling you all this about some green vegetable? Because this article is going to be all about the calories in green beans.
Green Beans Calorie Count
Fresh Green Beans
Fresh here can have two interpretations. One can be, that they have just been plucked fresh from the garden. These are also called the snap beans.The other could be unprocessed and raw. So half a cup of snap beans or just plucked green beans have around 20 calories. Raw, unprocessed green beans contain around 20 calories per 100 gms, so (250 gms) will have around 40 - 50 calories. Thus, if you take an average serving of green beans, it has around 26 calories. Simply put, half a cup of green beans has around 17 calories.
Steamed Green Beans
A cup of steamed green beans, obviously will have more calories than raw ones. Hence, in a cup of steamed green bean calories there are around 40 - 45 calories. It can be even less, depending on the processing it has undergone. Processing always makes a foodstuff gain calories, which it does not have when raw. The same holds true for green beans. The vital nutrients are lost and unfortunately, the calorie count increases.
Normal Green Beans
To add to the list, half a cup of snap beans, which are canned, without being dried or any other processing can have a calorie count between 15 - 20. On the other hand, snap beans which are canned and drained contain around 25 calories in a single cup. Similarly, French green beans have around 20 calories in a serving. Packed whole green beans contain around 20 calories in a serving.
Other Types of Beans
The number of calories in bojangles green beans is around 25 calories per serving. Likewise, calories in roasted green beans is around 100 calories per serving. In frozen and cut green beans there are around 30 calories. Green bean calories in packed green beans can be around 22 - 25 calories, that is without salt. Further, in a cup of green string beans there are approximately 34 calories.
In addition to the almost negligible calorie content, green beans also have vitamins and minerals which are essential nutrients. Green beans have the highest amount (almost 20%) of vitamin A. Vitamin B-6 comes close, amounting to 5%. The other nutrients follow suit with zinc being present in the least amount along with minimum phosphorus and carbohydrates.
This was a very general idea about the nutrient value of green beans. The value may vary according to the brand (if you go for packed ) and the way you prepare them and what is added with it. Enjoy your beans!
