Pass the Edamame for a Healthy Snack?

Edamame makes for a nice, light - and healthy - snack

Edamame is essentially green soybean pods that have been picked before they are ripe

One of the hottest and healthiest snacks on the market today is edamame.


Enjoyed in East Asia for centuries, edamame is essentially green soybean pods that have been picked before they are ripe. Similar in appearance to pea pods, edamame pods are most often found in the frozen foods section of the supermarket, typically packed in microwavable containers that can be used to heat them. They can also be steamed, or boiled in lightly salted water.


After they are cooked, the beans are removed from the pods and eaten as an appetizer (the pods are discarded). The beans can also be shelled and added to salads or main dishes.


Soybeans are an excellent source of vegetable protein and other important nutrients. A half-cup serving of edamame beans (about 1 1/8 cups of whole pods) contains 120 calories and delivers 
11 g of protein, 3.6 g of primarily healthy fats, 
40 mg of vitamin C, 130 mg of vitamin A and 9 g of fibre as well as iron, phosphorous and calcium.


Next time you’ve got a hankering for a snack, forget the potato chips and pass the edamame.

Originally published in Wellness Matters, Canada Wide Media’s quarterly newsletter on health and wellness.