Kansas Soybean celebrates delicious, nutritious soy foods this April

April is Soy Foods Month – the perfect time for soy enthusiasts across the United States to highlight the numerous foods that soy can bring to the table. The Kansas Soybean Commission is joining with health professionals, U.S. soybean farmers, and soy organizations to celebrate the nutritional benefits and health merits of soy.

Charlene Patton, consumer media specialist for the Kansas Soybean Commission, made 16 media appearances on TV and radio stations across the state this month. Farmers Roger Draeger, Galena; Raylen Phelon, Melvern; and Anna Unruh, Peabody; joined Charlene on select appearances to demonstrate what is cooking with soy. Visit www.kansassoybeans.org/recipes for ideas to bring to your kitchen.

Soy delivers high-quality, complete plant protein with a variety of other vitamins and minerals, and it is the only plant protein that carries U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) heart health claim confirming it may be able to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Soybean oil, commonly labeled as vegetable oil, is the most widely consumed edible oil in the U.S., accounts for more than 40% of the U.S. intake of both essential fatty acids, and is a source of vitamin E.

Despite national discourse questioning the value of seed oils, experts express confidence in the benefits provided by vegetable oil and others. In fact, numerous authoritative health organizations recommend vegetable oils in healthy diets and studies confirm the health benefits associated with linoleic acid-rich diets. Visit www.sniglobal.org/seedoils for all the details.

Soy foods, like tofu, edamame, tempeh, and soymilk, are found in most grocery stores, and soy-derived ingredients can be found in many shelf-stable foods like nutrition bars, cereals, and beverages. 

Celebrate Soy Foods Month by incorporating more soy protein and soybean oil into your diet. Here are a few ideas:

• Try new soy foods! Tofu isn’t the only soy-based food at the grocery store. Enjoy popping edamame out of the pods for a snack or add some protein into your pancakes with soy flour.
• Simple swaps: Start your day with a soy-based yogurt or serve soymilk with your favorite breakfast cereal. Fortified soymilk is the only non-dairy plant milk recommended by recent U.S. Dietary Guidelines as a suitable alternative to cow’s milk.
• Seek out soy on the label: Most vegetable oil on store shelves is 100% soybean oil. Soybean oil is recognized for its heart health benefits, and it also has a neutral flavor and high heat stability, making it an excellent choice for cooking, baking, sautéing, and more.