Lentils. When I was a kid I loved them. When I was a teenager I loved them. I love them still now.

For those who are unfamiliar with lentils, they are little bean like lens shaped veggies that you can get in your local health food store or even in some supermarkets. The come in various sizes and colours but the most common ones are brown, puy and red (though they are more orange than red, really). They grow in Asia and India is the main producent on earth (and Canada main exporter).

And they are sooo good for you! They contain tons of fibre, vitamin B and iron, no fat or sugar and very good balance between proteins and carbohydrates. I had a full plate of them today and that alone provided me with about 60% of my daily recommended intake of iron and about 67% of vitamin B (Thiamine) which means that it's good food for people with deficiencies, like me, who in result get easily tired and depressed. Fibre is great for digestion, so if you feel a bit uh-huh, there's nothing better.

And how I love them! Hot plate of lentils with a knob of butter and some salt is the ultimate comfort food for me. It's great on a cold day like today, just wrap yourself in a blanket switch on a good movie and have some lentils - they make you feel better, like chocolate (it's the iron and vit. B) and they just get you so warm inside.

And lentils with a little bit of browned onions - oh, the sweetness of the onion comes right trough the little mushy bits and complements it so well. A little sprinkle of pepper and you have a full palette of tastes. And while I like them on their own, there are loads of lentil recipes out there that could help you to put them in your diet.

And what's the best: they are cheap and they don't go bad - perfect kitchen staple.

So go on, get some mushy time!

P.S. yes, the farting factor of lentils can't be easily ignored. Rinse them before cooking and change the water halfway trough to reduce unpleasant effects!