They've got fiber. They're cheap. They're … cool? Behind the 'renaissance' of beans

They've got fiber. They're cheap. They're … cool? Behind the 'renaissance' of beans May 18, 20265:00 AM ET By  Joe Hernandez Kaitlin Brito for NPR Grocery prices got you down? Learn how to cut your food bill with NPR's 4-part newsletter. Sign up here for budgeting tips, meal planning and more. A hill of beans isn't so trivial anymore. In fact, it sounds pretty good. Interest is surging in the tiny, bulbous legumes sometimes met with a shrug, as more Americans increasingly seek out cheap, healthy and inventive food. Bean-centric recipes are abundant on social media — yep, there are bean-fluencers on BeanTok. Consumers can now buy trendier bean-based products, and one heirloom-bean service is so popular that it has a waitlist of tens of thousands of people. (Some bean lovers have taken to referring to themselves as the "leguminati.") The children's show Bluey is even being used to market beans to kids. Sponsor Message How to cut your food bill Join our special 4-part newsletter series