Lentils

Having been found as carbonized remains alongside human habitations dating to 11,000 BC in Greece, Lentil is considered the oldest pulse crop known. This edible legume produces lens-shaped seeds that range in color from slate green, brown, and black to reddish orange, coral, and gold. Besides, all varieties have unique, delicious flavors and textures, not to mention that they all share a similar nutritional profile. Low in calories and high in nutrition, lentils are the perfect legume to eat in the summer in salads, spreads, for crudités and crackers. In addition, they are a rich source of numerous essential nutrients, including folate, thiamin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, phosphorus, iron, and zinc, among others. In fact, the low levels of readily digestible starch and high levels of slowly digested starch make lentils of potential value to people with diabetes.