Vegetarian Legumes Guide
12 items classified under standard Vegetarian guidelines.
How do legumes fare on the Vegetarian diet? The answer depends on whether the food is the flesh of an animal. This guide breaks down all 12 items in this category with their classification, nutritional data, and the reasoning behind each status.
Legumes are universally compatible with Vegetarian. Each item listed here is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). The entries below break down the specific nutritional profile so you can choose based on your individual targets — calories, macros, or micronutrients that matter for your goals.
Quick Reference
| Food | Status | Calories (per 100g) |
|---|---|---|
| Black-Eyed Peas | Allowed | 166kcal |
| Canned Beans | Allowed | 189kcal |
| Chickpeas | Allowed | 378kcal |
| Hummus | Allowed | 237kcal |
| Lentils | Allowed | 352kcal |
| Lima Beans | Allowed | 113kcal |
| Mung Beans | Allowed | 347kcal |
| Navy Beans | Allowed | 337kcal |
| Peanut Butter | Allowed | 588kcal |
| Pinto Beans | Allowed | 191kcal |
| Soybeans | Allowed | 147kcal |
| White Beans | Allowed | 188kcal |
Classification Breakdown
12 Allowed — These legumes are either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey).
Lacto-ovo vegetarian includes dairy and eggs. Hidden traps: animal rennet in cheese, anchovies in Worcestershire, lard in baked goods.
Allowed Legumes (12)
Black-Eyed Peas
AllowedBlack-Eyed Peas is classified as Allowed on Vegetarian, with 166kcal calories per 100g. This means it is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). It also contains 7.2g protein and 7g fat, which may factor into overall meal planning. Among the 12 items in this category, black-eyed peas sits at the low end for calories — next closest is White Beans at 188kcal.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Canned Beans
AllowedAt 189kcal calories per 100g, Canned Beans falls into the Allowed category under Vegetarian guidelines. It is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). Beyond the primary classification, canned beans also provides 8.3g protein and 7.1g fat per 100g. Within this category, it falls between White Beans and Pinto Beans for calories, ranking 5 of 12.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Chickpeas
AllowedChickpeas is classified as Allowed on Vegetarian, with 378kcal calories per 100g. This means it is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). It also contains 20.5g protein and 6g fat, which may factor into overall meal planning. It ranks among the highest in this category for calories. The nearest lower option is Lentils at 352kcal.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Variant | Calories | Protein | Fat | Carbs | Fiber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | 378kcal | 20.5g | 6g | 63g | 12.2g |
| Cooked (boiled) | 164kcal | 8.9g | 2.6g | 27.4g | 7.6g |
| Canned | 139kcal | 7.1g | 2.5g | 22.6g | 5.4g |
Hummus
AllowedHummus is classified as Allowed on Vegetarian, with 237kcal calories per 100g. This means it is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). It also contains 7.8g protein and 17.8g fat, which may factor into overall meal planning. Within this category, it falls between Pinto Beans and Navy Beans for calories, ranking 7 of 12.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Lentils
AllowedAt 352kcal calories per 100g, Lentils falls into the Allowed category under Vegetarian guidelines. The classification reflects that it is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). Nutritionally, it also delivers 24.6g protein and 10.7g fiber per serving. It ranks among the highest in this category for calories. The nearest lower option is Mung Beans at 347kcal.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Variant | Calories | Protein | Fat | Carbs | Fiber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | 352kcal | 24.6g | 1.1g | 63.4g | 10.7g |
| Cooked (boiled) | 114kcal | 9g | 0.4g | 19.5g | 7.9g |
Lima Beans
AllowedLima Beans is classified as Allowed on Vegetarian, with 113kcal calories per 100g. The classification reflects that it is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). Nutritionally, it also delivers 6.8g protein and 4.9g fiber per serving. Among the 12 items in this category, lima beans sits at the low end for calories — next closest is Soybeans at 147kcal.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Mung Beans
AllowedMung Beans is classified as Allowed on Vegetarian, with 347kcal calories per 100g. The classification reflects that it is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). Nutritionally, it also delivers 23.9g protein and 16.3g fiber per serving. Within this category, it falls between Navy Beans and Lentils for calories, ranking 9 of 12.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Peanut Butter
AllowedPeanut Butter is classified as Allowed on Vegetarian, with 588kcal calories per 100g. This means it is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). It also contains 25.1g protein and 50.4g fat, which may factor into overall meal planning. It ranks among the highest in this category for calories. The nearest lower option is Chickpeas at 378kcal.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Variant | Calories | Protein | Fat | Carbs | Fiber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smooth | 598kcal | 22.2g | 51.4g | 22.3g | 5g |
| Smooth (no salt) | 598kcal | 22.2g | 51.4g | 22.3g | 5g |
Pinto Beans
AllowedWith 191kcal calories per 100g, Pinto Beans earns a Allowed classification on Vegetarian. It is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). Beyond the primary classification, pinto beans also provides 8.4g protein and 7.1g fat per 100g. Within this category, it falls between Canned Beans and Hummus for calories, ranking 6 of 12.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Variant | Calories | Protein | Fat | Carbs | Fiber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | 62kcal | 5.3g | 0.9g | 11.6g | — |
| Cooked (boiled) | 143kcal | 9g | 0.7g | 26.2g | 9g |
Soybeans
AllowedSoybeans is classified as Allowed on Vegetarian, with 147kcal calories per 100g. The classification reflects that it is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). Nutritionally, it also delivers 13g protein and 6.8g fat per serving. Among the 12 items in this category, soybeans sits at the low end for calories — next closest is Black-Eyed Peas at 166kcal.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
White Beans
AllowedWhite Beans is classified as Allowed on Vegetarian, with 188kcal calories per 100g. This means it is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). It also contains 9g protein and 6.8g fat, which may factor into overall meal planning. Within this category, it falls between Black-Eyed Peas and Canned Beans for calories, ranking 4 of 12.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central