Most canned refried beans contain evil LARD! They are not allowed on Phase I or Phase II!
However, you can make your own with canned kidney or black beans. Check the ingredient list to be sure no lard or sugar has been added.) Mash them up with a fork or in a food processor and add coriander or chile powder. I sometimes thin mine with a bit of salsa. Perfectly fine for Phase I then. A serving is a half cup of good carb.
Check the labels, I found some fat free/ sugar free refried black beans. I don't think they really are refried. I think they are mashed black beans with some spices. I don 't remember the brand name, but keep looking.
The kind I eat is Old El Paso brand, spicy fat free. Ingredients are cooked pinto beans, water, jalapeno peppers, salt, onion powder, cilli pepper, spice, and garlic powder. I toss a little lf shredded cheese on top and pop it in the microwave for a nice, tasty little snack in the evening. MMMMMMMMMMM.
At least in my experience, I have found that vegetarian refried beans, even commercial brands, tend to contain only beans, water, salt, and spices, no sugar or any lard. Check them out. I'd be more likely to buy them than to buy Fat Free. Just my HO.
Mine say 99% fat free. The ingredients are cooked black beans, water, salt, onion powder, garlic powder. These are La Preferida, I think from Target. I get a different brand from Tom Thumb that has the same ingredients or less. I think the onion and garlic may be missing.
I read a whole pile of labels on various cans a couple of months ago at the supermarket. I found that
Whole kidney beans are way lower in salt and sugar than chilli beans
Refried beans had way more salt, sugar and fat than either of these
Canned tomatoes are cheap and even lower in salt and sugar
You can buy canned tomatoes with chilli that are slightly higher in salt and sugar than regular canned tomatoes but lower in salt and sugar than most tomato based pasta sauces
I use whole kidney beans and canned tomatoes to make chilli.
It's very important to read labels especially for beans. I didn't realize this. One day I went to a different grocery store and they had a great sale on canned beans. I stocked up. When I started using them, I thought they tasted sweeter then the other brand. Checked the label and sugar was the 3rd ingredient. None of the other brands I had tried had added sugar. I couldn't believe it.
FF Refried Beans?
They are not allowed on Phase I or Phase II!
Just my HO.
