Great Northern Bean

Great northern beans may be introduced as soon as baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age.

Despite what its name suggests, the great northern bean likely evolved from wild plants that originated in the high deserts of Central America. From there, beans traveled northward with migration and trade with the Hidatsa, Mandan, and Sahnish peoples, the original stewards of the North American high plains. In their languages, beans are called awáasha, dabas, and ómįnįk, and their homelands is where the majority of the world’s great northern beans are commercially grown today.

Yes. Great northern beans are packed with protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and an array of important micronutrients that are often low in the diets of young children, such as iron, zinc, folate, choline, and vitamin B6. Together, these nutrients support healthy blood, overall growth and development, and healthy brains. These beans also offer electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, which help support heart and muscle function.

★Tip: Vitamin C helps increase absorption of iron from plant sources, so serve great northern beans with other foods that are high in vitamin C, such as asparagus, bell pepper, cauliflower, or peas.

Yes. Great northern beans are a choking hazard due to their small size and rounded shape, especially when raw or undercooked. To reduce the risk, cook until soft and mash beans into a paste or flatten each bean before serving. As always, make sure you create a safe eating environment and stay within an arm’s reach of baby during meals. For more information on choking, visit our sections on gagging and choking and familiarize yourself with the list of common choking hazards.

No. Great northern beans are not a common allergen, though allergies to white beans have been reported. While allergies to beans in general are being increasingly recognized, white beans, such as great northern beans, tend to be well-tolerated from an allergy perspective.

Bean allergies have been reported in some patients with allergies to other legumes, including peanut and soybean (which are common food allergens). However, being allergic to one type of legume does not necessarily mean that an individual will be allergic to others, although the risk of more than one legume allergy can increase. Fortunately, most individuals with peanut or soy allergy are able to tolerate other legumes just fine.

Individuals with allergies to birch tree pollen and/or Oral Allergy Syndrome (also called pollen-food allergy syndrome) may be sensitive to legumes, such as great northern beans. Oral Allergy Syndrome typically results in short-lived itching, tingling, or burning in the mouth and is unlikely to result in a dangerous reaction.

As you would when introducing any new food, start by offering a small quantity for the first few servings. If there is no adverse reaction, gradually increase the quantity over future meals.

Recommended Guide: Introducing Allergens

Yes. Look for great northern beans marked “no salt added” or “low sodium,” as many canned beans have sodium in excess of baby’s needs, and opt for cans marked “BPA-free,” when available. Bisphenol A (BPA) is used to line the interior of some food containers, and studies show that frequent exposure can affect baby’s neurological development.

★Tip: Draining and rinsing canned beans can significantly reduce their sodium content.

Yes. Often called anti-nutrients, these naturally-occurring plant compounds (including lectins, oxalates, and phytates) break down during the soaking and cooking process and are generally harmless in healthy people when consumed as part of a balanced diet. Lectins and oxalates can even offer health benefits, such as antioxidant and anti-cancer properties.

No, but soaking them in water prior to cooking can reduce cooking time, reduce the levels of lectin and of a gas-producing carbohydrate, raffinose, and help make the bean and its key nutrients more easily digestible.

Here are a couple of soaking methods:

Yes. Beans are well-known for their ability to produce gas and poop because of their fibers and resistant starch content, which interact with certain bacteria in the gut, resulting in gas and poop. While gas is normal and expected, excess gas can be uncomfortable for baby. To minimize digestive discomfort, introduce high-fiber foods like great northern beans gradually and regularly in baby’s diet as tolerated. Remember that pooping patterns can vary significantly from baby to baby. If you have concerns about your baby’s pooping and digestive function, talk to your pediatric healthcare provider.