Green beans are long, thin pods that grow on vines or small bushes, and they make a satisfying “snap” sound when you break them in half! That snapping sound is actually how they got one of their nicknames: snap beans. Green beans are picked when they are still young and tender, before the little beans inside have a chance to grow big and hard. People have been growing green beans for thousands of years, and they originally came from Central and South America. Green beans are part of the same plant family as peas, peanuts, and even clover!
Inside each green bean pod, you can find tiny little beans lined up in a row. Green beans are full of vitamins and fiber that help keep your body healthy and your tummy happy. There are two main kinds of green bean plants: bush beans that grow in short, round bushes, and pole beans that climb up tall poles and can grow over six feet high! Green beans come in different colors too, not just green. Some are yellow and are called wax beans, and some are even a beautiful dark purple that turns green when you cook them. You can eat green beans steamed, roasted, or even raw as a crunchy snack!
