First, choose between dried pulses that need cooking and pulses that are already cooked, depending on how much time you have. Then compare the ingredients and nutrition information for the product you’ve selected. Plain frozen vegetables can round out a meal, but they don’t automatically replace dried pulses. If you have diabetes, the quantities you eat should be tailored to the advice you’ve received for your individual circumstances.
You want to tell plain pulses apart from prepared dishes when planning your meals. The French health insurance service, Assurance Maladie, recommends reading food labels when shopping and notes that eating with diabetes should be tailored to each individual.
You choose dried pulses to cook and a pack size that suits the portions you’re preparing. According to Manger Bouger, lentils, chickpeas, beans and split peas are all pulses.
You’re looking for pulses that are already cooked or frozen vegetables that are easy to add to a meal. Just check whether the pack contains a plain product or a prepared dish.
First, distinguish between pulses that need cooking, ready-cooked pulses and frozen vegetables. Then check what each product contains and whether its pack size suits the meal you have in mind.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| What’s in your meal | Distinguish plain products from prepared dishes; compare the ingredients and nutritional values per 100 g. | When I’m planning a meal with diabetes in mind, I want to know exactly what’s in the product. Around 36% of shoppers are said to make ingredients their top priority. |
| Pack size and portions | Check the net weight and, for tinned products, the drained weight if this is shown on the packaging. | If I’m cooking several meals in advance, I look for a pack size that suits the portions I’ve planned; around 29% of shoppers are said to prioritise this. |
| Preparation time | Check whether the pulses need cooking or are already cooked, and read the preparation instructions. | When I’m short on time, I want to be able to add pulses to my meal quickly. This is said to be the top priority for around 21% of shoppers. |
| Frozen vegetables as a side | Distinguish plain vegetables from stir-fry mixes, purées and gratins; check the ingredients in prepared dishes. | When adding vegetables from the freezer to my meals, I want to tell plain products apart from prepared dishes. Around 14% of shoppers are said to prioritise this additional purchase. |
A ready meal may contain lentils or chickpeas, but its ingredients won’t necessarily be the same as those in a plain product. Auchan, for example, has sections for both pulses and prepared dishes.
Identify the type of product, then read the ingredients list and nutrition information for the exact item you’re considering.
Plain frozen vegetables can go alongside a meal featuring pulses; a stir-fry mix or gratin is a prepared dish that should be checked separately. Carrefour and Aldi list frozen vegetables separately from dried pulses.
Decide whether you’re looking for pulses, vegetables to serve with your meal, or both, then check what each product is.
Carrefour offers dried pulses and, in a separate section, frozen vegetables.
An E.Leclerc product page for green lentils from the Centre region lists details including the product name and ingredients.
Auchan’s lentils and chickpeas section features a range of prepared products.
Aldi offers Fleurs des Champs prepared lentils and a selection of frozen vegetables.
Bjorg offers a ready-to-use doypack containing ingredients including chickpeas, quinoa and lentils.
No. No product is automatically right for everyone. Assurance Maladie notes that eating with diabetes should be tailored to the individual. Compare products while keeping in mind the quantities recommended for your circumstances.
Start with the product name, ingredients list, net weight and nutrition information. To compare two products, look in particular at the values per 100 g and check whether each contains plain pulses or a prepared dish.
Yes, if you’re looking for pulses that are quicker to use, but check what each product contains. A prepared dish in a pouch won’t necessarily have the same ingredients as plain pulses.
No. Lentils, chickpeas, beans and split peas are pulses, while plain frozen vegetables are a separate category. They can complement a meal containing pulses; a stir-fry mix, purée or gratin should be checked as a prepared dish.