Beans. The Vegetable with More.™

The Bean Expert Advisory Network (B.E.A.N.) is composed of nationally renowned food, nutrition, health and culinary experts who advise on ways to help Americans achieve the 2005 Dietary Guidelines recommendation to consume 3 cups per week of legumes, such as beans, as part of a healthy diet.

	Keith Ayoob, Ed.D., R.D., FADA, is a pediatric nutritionist and associate clinical professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He is also the director of the Nutrition Clinic at the Rose F. Kennedy Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center. Dr. Ayoob specializes in child and adult nutrition, obesity and heart health, and is focused on the health issues of early-onset overweight children. He served as a national media spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association for nine years. Dr. Ayoob is the co-author of the American Dietetic Association’s position paper on food and nutrition misinformation. Currently, in addition to being a frequent guest on Healthy Life with Dr. Tim Johnson on the ABC NewsNow network, Dr. Ayoob is also asked to comment on timely nutrition news for ABCNews.com and has a blog on USAToday.com that focuses on healthy lifestyle and weight management issues.

	Jennifer Carden is a chef and author of “The Toddler Café” (Chronicle Books, 2008); her companion blog, The Toddler Café, describes her food adventures for children and adults. She is dedicated to getting children excited about food, and with her creative recipes and techniques she inspires kids and adults alike. She is also a food stylist, teacher, and mom. Carden's innovative ideas and humorous slant on feeding children have led her to develop well-received books and products that help parents feed their children healthy, quick and uncomplicated food. She has worked with some of the culinary industry’s most renowned cookbook authors, including Jacques Pepin and Mollie Katzen, and has contributed recipes to “The Healthy Baby Workbook” (Chronicle Books, 2006) and David Grotto’s “101 Optimal Life Foods” (Bantam, 2009). In addition, Carden’s expertise has been called upon to write and develop recipes and menus for restaurants and major food companies nationwide. Carden’s media appearances include guest spots on Martha Stewart Radio, and a View from the Bay and Eye on the Bay, Northern California television shows. Currently, Carden is co-founder of Dirt to Dine Adventure Camp for Budding Chefs in Napa and is a contributor to Nickelodeon's Parents Connect. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and daughter.

	David Grotto, R.D., L.D.N., started his career in the natural foods industry 25 years ago having owned and operated his own natural foods store. After becoming a registered dietitian, Grotto specialized in several areas of clinical dietetics including chemical dependency, cardiovascular health, weight management and oncology. He then started his own private practice and consulting agency, Nutrition Housecall, LLC, providing nutrition communications, lecturing and consulting services, in addition to offering personalized at-home dietary services. Grotto speaks and freelance writes on a vast array of health and wellness topics including nutritional oncology, integrative approaches to cardiovascular disease, alternative medicine, kid’s nutrition and optimal dietary strategies for men. Grotto also has vast media experience, appearing on numerous radio and television programs such as, You the Owners Manual radio program with Dr. Roizen, the Montel Williams Show and iVillage Live. He co-hosted the national television program, Health & Lifestyles, Weekly, and hosted his own radio show for more than 10 years called Let’s Talk Health, CHICAGO. His acclaimed book, “101 Foods That Could Save Your Life”, is in its tenth printing and has been translated into fifteen different languages. Grotto’s new book, “101 Optimal Life Foods”, tackles 30 health conditions that get in the way of living and will be released in late 2009. One of Grotto’s passions is improving the health of children through good nutrition. To this end, he serves as the advisory board chair for Produce for Kids® and PBS Kids™ health initiative. Grotto served as a national media spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association for more than six years. He lives in the Chicago area with his wife, three daughters and two female dogs, making him an expert on the subject of “unopposed” estrogen.

	Connie Guttersen, R.D., Ph.D., is the author of the New York Times bestseller “The Sonoma Diet” and “The Sonoma Diet Cookbook.” Her revolutionary program has garnered coast-to-coast media attention, and she has discussed the Sonoma philosophy to considerable acclaim in dozens of television venues. A registered dietitian and an adjunct instructor for nutrition at the world-famous Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, Dr. Guttersen also delivers key nutrition messages to the food industry and health professionals by bringing together the art and science of food. She has spent her career focusing on developing flavorful and nutritious approaches to healthy eating and weight reduction, becoming a leading nutrition expert on the health benefits of diets inspired by the Mediterranean, Asian and Latin American cuisines. She was a contributing author for “Techniques of Healthy Cooking” (Culinary Institute of America) and has also been a guest lecturer for many national and international food and dietary conferences around the globe. Dr. Guttersen lives in the beautiful wine country region of northern California with her husband and two children.

	Elizabeth M. Ward, M.S., R.D., is a freelance writer and nutrition consultant. She is the author of “The American Dietetic Association’s Expect The Best: Your Guide to Healthy Eating Before, During, & After Pregnancy” (Wiley, 2009) (expectthebestpregnancy.com), “The Pocket Idiot’s Guide to the New Food Pyramids” (Alpha Books, 2006), “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Feeding Your Baby and Toddler” (Alpha Books, 2005) and “Pregnancy Nutrition: Good Health for You and Your Baby” (Wiley, 1998). Ward is also the co-author of “Super Nutrition After 50” (Publications International, 1994) and contributing editor of “Pillsbury’s Healthy Baking” (Viking Press, 1995). She regularly writes for Men’s Fitness, USAToday.com and WebMD.com. She was a spokesperson for the American Dietetic

	Liz Weiss, M.S., R.D., is an award-winning broadcast journalist, author and registered dietitian specializing in health, nutrition and culinary communications. Weiss is also a sought-after speaker and cooking instructor. She is the co-author of “The Moms’ Guide to Meal Makeovers: Improving the Way Your Family Eats, One Meal at a Time” and one of three finalists for the 2005 International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) Cookbook Award in the health & special diet category. In addition, Weiss is the co-founder of the free, online “Meal Makeover Moms’ Club” at MealMakeoverMoms.com/kitchen, co-hosts the weekly radio podcast, Cooking with the Moms, writes the family food blog, Meal Makeover Moms' Kitchen, and is a freelance writer for Kiwi magazine. Weiss lives in Lexington, Mass., with her husband and two sons.