Pulse Canada and Beans is How are calling upon Canada’s restaurants and food service sector to join us in putting more #BeansOnTheMenu.
Since March 2024, Beans is How has been collaborating with Pulse Canada to reinforce the domestic campaign to double Canadian bean consumption. Through various stakeholder gatherings, we have communicated the value of pulses to a broad and diverse set of stakeholders while encouraging new alliances between local actors.
Pulse Canada and Beans is How are collaborating further to capitalise on this momentum to get more #BeansOnTheMenu, starting with Toronto, getting together restaurants, food service, chefs, universities, and other relevant stakeholders.
As part of the campaign, food service organisations, including restaurants, cafés, and caterers, will make a public pledge to:
-
Add at least one clearly labelled pulse‑based dish to their menus, with a preference for main dishes
-
Track sales or volume data to demonstrate consumer uptake.
-
Share success stories that inspire peers.
Sign up to participate in #BeansOnTheMenu
Co-Hosts
Putting beans at the centre of menus delivers a four‑fold win: it boosts food security by adding a shelf‑stable, locally producible protein to an import‑heavy diet; improves public health with fibre‑rich dishes that lower obesity, diabetes and heart‑disease risk; cuts the food‑system footprint thanks to pulses’ low water use, soil‑nurturing nitrogen fixation and tiny carbon tally; and celebrates multicultural culinary roots, uniting chefs and diners around a tasty, sustainable common cause.
-
Culinary relevance
Pulses are highly versatile, with a wide range of varieties that invite creativity and innovation. This campaign celebrates Canada’s diverse culinary traditions while encouraging chefs to reinterpret and reinvent them for modern menus.
-
Public health
Beans are rich in protein, fibre, iron and other essential micronutrients, while naturally low in fat and free from cholesterol — making them well aligned with Canada’s Food Guide and national preventive health priorities.
-
Food security
Pulses can help diversify Canada’s food system by strengthening domestic consumption of a shelf-stable, affordable protein. They support food security at home while contributing to livelihoods across the global pulse supply chain.
-
Climate action
Pulses such as beans have a low environmental footprint. They require less water than most other protein sources and naturally improve soil health through nitrogen fixation, making them among the most climate-resilient crops grown in Canada.
READ THE ACTION REPORT FROM CANADA
In November 2024, Pulse Canada, Beans is How, York University and Compass Group Canada co-hosted the “All About Beans Summit: Inspiring More #BeansOnTheMenu in Canada” in Toronto.
It gathered 53 food system leaders, chefs, academics, and advocates from 33 organisations from across Canada to highlight the transformative potential of beans in tackling pressing challenges such as food insecurity, climate change, and diet-related health and nutrition illnesses.
#BeansOnTheMenu is led by the Beans is How Coalition, an effort by over 100 organisations to double the global consumption of beans and other pulses by 2028. In addition to being delicious and affordable, beans also help improve nutrition and regenerate soil, reducing the impact of climate change. Tiny but mighty, beans are a solution for improving the health of our population and our planet.
Simply by highlighting a bean dish on your menu, you can send a strong message that our daily choices matter. Join the NYC Agencies to show the world that New York City is leading the way in fighting for a better future for the health of people and the planet!
DID YOU KNOW…
Beans are a simple, affordable and convenient solution to our health, climate and cost of living challenges.
- Beans are for everyone! Not just for vegetarians or those on a budget, they’re the perfect food choice for anyone looking for a nutrient-dense, sustainable food option that is kind to our bodies, the planet, and our wallets.
- Beans are versatile and delicious! With hundreds of varieties, beans offer endless culinary possibilities. They’ve got different tastes, cooking times, and nutrient profiles. Beans can be prepared and incorporated into a variety of foods including meals, snacks, sauces, spreads, desserts, and even beverages. Beans are widely affordable, and available in ways to fit into many lifestyles, including dried, canned, jarred, in flour form, or frozen.
- Beans are nutritious! Beans are packed with dietary fibre, protein and complex carbohydrates, with a low glycemic index. They have no cholesterol and are low in fat. They are rich in vitamins and minerals, including potassium, iron, and folate. Regularly consuming beans can improve your digestive health, make you feel fuller longer, and help improve your overall health.
- Beans are good for the planet, helping to safeguard the environment for future generations. They are a fix nitrogen in the soil, and can improve water and soil quality. Their long shelf-life can help prevent food waste, making them a great, healthy pantry staple.