Parents looking for a familiar texture
For a first taste, cooked pulses can be mashed or blended, then offered in a very small amount. Manger Bouger advises not to force a young child who refuses to eat more.
Who are these formats for?
Parents short on time on weeknights
A tin, jar or ready-to-use pouch means you don't have to start cooking pulses at mealtime. Always check the ingredients of a prepared dish before serving it.
Households planning several meals
Lentils, chickpeas, split peas and beans can be used to make a range of different dishes. Dried formats are a good choice when you can plan the cooking in advance.
What should you look for?
The format determines how much preparation is needed. You can then tailor your choice to the meal you have in mind by considering the texture, ingredients and pack size.
Plain tinned and jarred pulses
Choose these if: you want to use a small amount of cooked lentils or chickpeas and adapt them to the dish you're serving.
Bear in mind: compare the drained weight and follow the storage instructions after opening.
Ready-to-heat pouches
Choose these if: you want to cut down on preparation at mealtime.
Bear in mind: prepared dishes may contain ingredients other than pulses, so read the label.
Dried pulses in packets or loose
Choose these if: you can cook in advance and want to make your own soups, purées or side dishes.
Bear in mind: unlike pulses that are already cooked, these need to be cooked in advance.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Taste and texture | Choose a product you can serve in a small amount and prepare to a texture that suits your child. | If my child is unsure about a new dish, I want to be able to offer them a little without insisting. Around 42% of consumers put this first introduction top of their list. |
| Preparation time | Tell dried pulses apart from tinned products and ready-to-heat meals, and read the ingredients of the latter. | When I need to put dinner together quickly, I need a base that's already cooked. Speed would be the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Planning your cupboard | Compare the varieties and formats, then check the storage instructions for after opening. | For future meals, I prefer to have a few different pulses on hand without opening a container that's too large for my needs. This would come first for around 25% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Opening a large pack for a first taste
If your child refuses the dish, you'll need to find another use for what's left.
Choose a small pack if one is available, or plan a second recipe before opening the product. Then follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
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Confusing plain pulses with a prepared dish
A dish made with chickpeas or lentils may also contain grains, salt or other ingredients.
Check the product name, ingredients list and allergen information for the exact product. A plain version lets you make the recipe yourself.
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Insisting that your child clears their plate
Insisting that a child eats a food they have refused can make mealtimes stressful.
Manger Bouger advises offering a very small amount without forcing your child to eat more. You can offer the food again at another meal.
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Assuming a product will be in stock without checking your store
The ranges and offers shown by supermarkets may not match what's available in your chosen store.
Check the variety and format available at your store or collection point before planning your recipe.
Supermarkets and brands to know
Carrefour
The supermarket offers tinned and jarred lentils and other pulses, including products in its Carrefour Classic' and Carrefour Bio ranges.
- Cooked formats can be used as the base for a quick meal or a small first taste.
- Check which varieties and pack formats are available at your chosen store.
E.Leclerc
The supermarket has a loose dried pulses category for in-store shopping.
- Buying loose lets you look for the variety you want for a planned meal.
- Check the range at your chosen store before relying on a specific product.
Auchan
The supermarket's shelves include dried pulses to cook, as well as ready-cooked lentils and chickpeas.
- Choosing between dried and cooked products lets you match your purchase to the time you have available.
- For a prepared dish, check the ingredients rather than relying on the name of the pulse alone.
Lidl
The Goldensun “Organic Dried Pulses” range includes varieties such as lentils, split peas, white beans and chickpeas.
- These varieties give you options for different recipes that you can prepare in advance.
- Check whether the variety you want is available at your local supermarket.
Bjorg
The brand offers, among other products, a 250 g quinoa and chickpea doypack that is ready in 2 minutes.
- This format could be useful when you need to prepare a meal quickly.
- It's a prepared dish, not plain chickpeas, and it includes ingredients such as wheat bulgur. Check the label if you need to avoid an ingredient.
Dried pulses to cook, available on Joybuy
These three products are dried pulses to prepare for meals you've planned ahead. If you need a cooked base for dinner, choose this format instead when you shop.
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VN Peeled Split Mung Beans Dau xanh ca, 400 g
For a soup or another dish you've planned in advance, these peeled split mung beans need to be cooked.
400 g pack. Check the cooking instructions and allergen information on the packaging before preparing the meal.
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Valle Del Sole Lentil Mix, 350 g
This lentil mix is suitable for a recipe you can plan to prepare in advance.
350 g pack. Check the cooking instructions and allergen information on the packaging.
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Valle Del Sole Black Turtle Beans, 900 g
These black beans are a good option for several meals planned in advance, rather than a single small taste.
900 g pack. Plan how you'll use the rest, and check the cooking and storage instructions on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Can you offer pulses to a child?
For children aged 4 to 17, Manger Bouger says pulses can be offered according to their appetite. For a younger child, or if they have difficulty chewing or swallowing or need to avoid certain foods, ask their healthcare professional how to adapt the preparation.
What should you do if your child refuses lentils or chickpeas?
Offer a very small amount without forcing them to eat more, as Manger Bouger advises. You can offer the food again at another meal, perhaps in a more familiar texture.
What should you check on the packaging before buying?
Check the product name, ingredients, highlighted allergens, nutritional information, quantity and stated date. For a tin or jar containing liquid, also compare the drained net weight.
How should you store a jar or tin after opening?
Follow the manufacturer's instructions on the packaging, especially those covering temperature and how long the product can be kept after opening. The date shown for an unopened product does not replace these instructions.
Is a ready-to-heat pouch suitable if you need to avoid gluten?
It depends on the exact recipe: Bjorg's quinoa and chickpea doypack contains wheat bulgur, among other ingredients. Check the ingredients list and allergen information on the pouch you're thinking of buying.