The episode features Nora Bordeau of Balancing Bowls, a former collegiate rower and food blogger focused on practical bean- and lentil-based cooking for families and athletes. They discuss types of beans and lentils, nutrition benefits (protein, complex carbs, fiber, micronutrients, antioxidants), and how beans can count as multiple food groups.

They cover convenience, affordability, accessibility, and how to use canned versus dried beans (soaking, rinsing, cooking tips). They address gas and bloating, fiber tolerance, and strategies like gradual intake increases and discarding soaking liquid. Nora shares recipe ideas including bean salads, crispy chickpeas, stuffed peppers, brothy beans, pizza spreads, and using blended beans to create creamy soups.

Nora Bourdeau is the creator of Balancing Bowls, a food blog focused on balanced, practical cooking with a special passion for beans and lentils. A former college athlete, Nora brings a grounded, food-first perspective to nourishment, strength, and sustainability in the kitchen, helping women fuel their lives with confidence and flexibility.

Episode Highlights:

01:22 Period Pain Sponsor
03:00 Meet Nora Bourdeau
04:28 Why Beans Became The Focus
06:36 Athlete Background And Fueling
08:14 Bean Prep Stories And Tips
10:19 Beans And Lentils Explained
18:02 Nutrition Benefits Breakdown
22:47 Protein And Meal Ideas
26:40 Convenience Pantry Wins
31:08 RED-Ss Check In And Resources
33:07 RED-S Recovery Membership
33:40 Canned Beans Myths
34:52 Dried Beans Basics
36:04 Soaking and Cooking Tips
38:32 Brothy Beans and Soups
40:32 Busy Night Flexibility
44:20 Gas and Bloating Fixes
53:47 Favorite Bean Recipes
01:00:36 More Resources and Wrap

Resources and Links:

Balancing Bowls Website
Follow Balancing Bowls on Instagram
For more information about the show, head to work with Lindsey on improving your nutrition, head to: http://www.lindseycortes.com/
Join REDS Recovery Membership: http://www.lindseycortes.com/reds
WaveBye Supplements – Menstrual cycle support code LindseyCortes for 15% off: http://wavebye.co
Previnex Supplements – Joint Health Plus, Muscle Health Plus, plant-based protein, probiotics, and more; code CORTES15 for 15% off: previnex.com
Female Athlete Nutrition Podcast Archive & Search Tool – Search by sport, condition, or topic: lindseycortes.com/podcast
Female Athlete Nutrition Community – YouTube, Instagram @‌femaleathletenutrition, and private Facebook group

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