Uh, Canned Beans Might Not Be Vegan: Use This MD's Tip To Parse Your Staples

"Check your labels," she says on the mindbodygreen podcast. "They could be in lard or traditional fat," which is decidedly, uh, not vegan. 

The solution? Shanahan recommends looking for cans with "fat-free" on the label. While it's still a bit tricky to navigate (it's a pretty loose term, so trace amounts of fat could still make its way into the can), it may be far healthier than the former. You can also search for "vegetarian" refried beans, which promises zero animal lard in the process. Although, they might use butter as an alternative, so if you're truly vegan, you might want to take a closer look at those cans as well—perhaps reach for options that use only olive or avocado oil to achieve a rich, fatty flavor.  

Beans are a staple in many plant-based pantries, but it's important to make sure the beans you're buying truly match up with your vegan values. In the case of some canned and refried beans, animal lard may make a sneaky presence. Not to fret: Just check up on your labels, as always, perhaps reading between the lines.