Tinned Green Beans are canned, usually with a little added salt, which places tinned green beans in NOVA group 3. The vegetable itself is still a whole food, and rinsing or choosing no-added-salt tins cuts the salt. They are a source of vitamin K. Work out the numbers for any portion and age below, then see the full macro and micronutrient breakdown.
The tables below put each macronutrient against age-appropriate guidance, because what matters for a 4 year old is very different from an adult.
3 tablespoons (about 80g) contains about 1.2g of sugar, and it is all natural (intrinsic) sugar that comes packaged with fibre and water. It has 0g of added or free sugar, so it does not count toward the daily free sugar limit the NHS sets. The table shows those limits by age; Tinned Green Beans contribute nothing to them.
Tinned Green Beans are naturally very low in fat, with about 0.08g per portion and 0g of added fat. Only around 0.02g is saturated, well within the daily maximum for every age group.
Because tinned green beans are salted, a portion carries about 0.32g of salt. Children have lower daily salt limits than adults, so it is worth checking against the guidance below.
Fibre supports healthy digestion, and most people in the UK do not get enough. A portion provides about 2.0g. Because children need less fibre than adults, that same portion covers a bigger share of a younger child's target.
There is about 3.6g of carbohydrate per portion. There is no single daily target, but roughly half of daily energy should come from carbohydrate; the reference values below are based on that.
Percentages are share of the daily Nutrient Reference Value (NRV). Under UK and EU rules a food is a source of a nutrient at 15% NRV per 100g and high in it at 30%.
These tables show how the nutrients compare to daily needs across different ages, using UK Reference Nutrient Intakes (RNIs). This differs from the source of and high in labels above, which use the single adult figure (NRV) set for food packaging. Children's needs are lower, so a portion goes further.
Vitamin K is needed for normal blood clotting and healthy bones. 3 tablespoons (about 80g) contains 32ug. Because children need less than adults, that same portion covers a bigger share of a younger child's daily target. These figures use safe intake levels, as no formal UK RNI is set.
Folate is needed to make healthy red blood cells and is especially important before and during pregnancy. 3 tablespoons (about 80g) contains 20ug. Because children need less than adults, that same portion covers a bigger share of a younger child's daily target.
Potassium helps control blood pressure and supports normal muscle and nerve function. 3 tablespoons (about 80g) contains 120mg. Because children need less than adults, that same portion covers a bigger share of a younger child's daily target.
Vitamin C supports the immune system and helps the body absorb iron from food. 3 tablespoons (about 80g) contains 4mg. Because children need less than adults, that same portion covers a bigger share of a younger child's daily target.
Lightly. The vegetable itself is a NOVA group 1 whole food, but the added salt used in canning moves the tin into NOVA group 3. Rinsing the contents or buying no-added-salt tins brings it back close to the plain vegetable.
Nutrition data from McCance and Widdowson and UK FoodData Central, per 100g raw edible portion; values are reference figures and can vary by variety and ripeness. Reference intakes: EU NRVs for labelling and UK RNIs (SACN) for age-based needs. For guidance only.