The other day, my friend ate a meal with chickpeas and kidney beans and thought it would count as two of her 5 a day. But here’s the thing, it still only counts as one.

Here’s why:

Pulses (like chickpeas, kidney beans, lentils, and dried or tinned peas) are the dried seeds of legumes. Nutritionally, they’re very similar to each other, which means that no matter how many different types you eat in a day, they’ll only count once towards your 5 a day.

One portion is around 80g (about three heaped tablespoons). So yes, you can enjoy chickpeas and kidney beans in the same meal, but together, they’ll only tick off one portion.

That doesn’t mean you should cut down on them. In fact, pulses are packed with fibre, plant-based protein, and minerals like iron and magnesium. They’re also inexpensive, filling, and versatile. The key is variety. Pair your beans or lentils with fruit and vegetables throughout the day to make sure you’re getting the widest range of nutrients.

So keep enjoying your chickpeas and kidney beans, just remember they’ll only ever count as one portion of your 5 a day.

References

The European Food Information Council (2024). Pulses (Q&A). https://www.eufic.org/en/healthy-living/article/pulses-qa#heading-9 Accessed on 28 September 2025.

National Health Service.(2022). 5 A Day: what counts?
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/5-a-day/5-a-day-what-counts/#:~:text=80g%20of%20beans%20and%20pulses,than%20other%20fruits%20and%20vegetables. Accessed on 28 September 2025.