They're cheap, they're packed with nutrients and they seemingly last forever: Beans are in the spotlight.

• The big picture: Beans have replaced kale as the buzziest nutrition obsession, The Wall Street Journal's Andrea Petersen writes. They're showing up in viral TikTok recipe videos, and bean cookbooks are becoming bestsellers.

🔭 Zoom out: Beans are high in fiber — which most Americans don't get enough of — and they're an excellent plant-based source of protein. Both fiber and protein help keep us satiated for longer and curb cravings.

• Research also suggests that adding beans to our diets balances our gut microbiomes. That's connected to a whole host of health benefits, from reduced inflammation in the body to lower risk of cancer. 

Zoom in: Beans also appear in scientists' latest dietary guideline recommendations to the government.

• Scientists are advising the government to up the recommended amount of beans, peas and lentils Americans should eat each week, The Journal notes.

🥣 Erica's dinner tip: If you're looking for a way to incorporate more beans into your meals, I highly recommend the five-star New York Times Cooking recipe, "Lemony White Bean Soup with Turkey and Greens" by Melissa Clark.

• Try it (gift link — no paywall).

Soak up this stunning scene, captured by reader Donna Leavitt of Sugar Hill, N.H., on her commute to work.