Lentils as sole diet: stew costs 15 cents in electricity

Lentils as a sole diet: economy that doesn't lead to weight loss

Some turn to lentil stews to manage tight budgets, but few go this far: half a kilo of legumes, onion, carrot, a head of garlic and spicy chorizo simmering all night. An anonymous testimony on responsible consumption shares the story bluntly: for weeks it was practically their only meal, alongside sandwiches, coffee with condensed milk and occasional drinks. The result, they admit, was not the expected weight loss.

Slow cooker stew costs 15 cents

The energy calculation becomes the key data point. A 150-watt slow cooker, similar to the famous Crock-Pot, is enough to cook legumes for 6 or 8 hours unattended. At this consumption level, the cooking cost is around 15 cents, much less than using butane gas. The original appliance costs about 50 euros, while supermarket imitations work perfectly well. Compared to buying pre-cooked cans, savings depend on how one values time.

Vinegar, spices and a classic Greek philosophy anecdote

Heavy digestion has tricks. Cumin, coriander and turmeric are allies against gas and acidity, while raw vinegar with a drizzle of oil becomes an essential dressing for some. Experts advise adding salt at the end so the skins don't harden. Some even sprout a small portion of the lentils to boost vitamin C and enzymes. The final touch is the anecdote of Diogenes of Sinope, eating lentils in front of a court philosopher and replying that anyone who knew how to eat like him wouldn't need to flatter any king.

From slow cooker to red lentils

Variety matters too. Red lentils need no soaking and are ready in 25 minutes; pardina lentils benefit from slow cooking. For skeptics who find them bland, 'nduja, a spicy spread from Spilinga (Calabria, not Sicily, as locals correct), turns canned lentils into an almost addictive dish. Anything goes, including lightly cooked and breaded lentil burgers.

Warning about chorizo and metabolic syndrome

Traditional dishes aren't free health-wise. Chorizo with smoked paprika, nearly omnipresent in stews, contains smoking compounds considered potentially carcinogenic. Furthermore, arguments suggest metabolic syndrome is already the norm after age 40, and insulin levels above 5 mU/L inhibit autophagy and fat burning. It's not medical advice, but it explains why a lentil and chorizo diet doesn't produce the miracle results.

The stigma of poor people's food

Calling lentils "chicken feed" provokes immediate rejection. Others defend frugality as a virtue, and some recall surviving economic hardship on lentils, chickpeas and rice, without chorizo and losing weight. However, the case doesn't end with a sarracena tale: two months later, the protagonist confesses they've switched to chicken. The sole-diet experiment had its days numbered, like most extreme solutions.