If you have watched the tv show “Survivor”, You have seen how much weight a person can lose in a very short time.  It is sometimes very amazing to see men and women lose 1 to 2 1/2 pounds per day.  Obviously, that is not a diet, in any shape or form.  They are literally starving.  The odd thing, though, is what they are given to eat.  They receive beans and rice.  Sure, they may catch some fish or even some type of meat.  But, their main diet is beans and rice.  Not very appetizing, is it?  None the less, they survive on beans and rice.

About 25 or 30 years ago, I read an article, somewhere, that combining these two carbohydrates, when eaten together form a perfect protein.  I was perpetually on a diet and still am.  I saw something in that article, that made me take notice and then action.  I thought, maybe this would be a good diet to get on .  I did not intend to eat it every day at every meal, but decided to eat a cup or so, before lunch and dinner.  It’s healthy and very filling.  Almost immediately, I began to lose weight.  Not a pound a day, but like 3 to 4 pounds per week.

Beans and rice have been my mainstay for all these years.  I generally eat a cup or so about 6 times per week.  I sometimes, make it my entire course.  That is a lot of beans and rice.  I used a 10 bean dry soup mix, that I buy in bulk.  $1.69 per pound.  I always have beans and rice in my fridge or freezer.  Generally, I just add water and a few spices.

I have made many changes to the first recipe.  Sometime, I will add a hambone and little ham for taste.  Mostly, I add green vegetables, lots of vegetables.  I think the biggest change is that I only use brown rice.  I’m sure, you all know, how much healthier brown rice is over white rice.  This may sound boring to you at first, but trust me, you will soon learn to love it.  It is healthy and very inexpensive and very good for you.  Try it, you’ll like it.   FYI, if you are worried about getting the “toot”, add juice of 1/2 lemon and you will solve that problem.

By Kevin Angileri