Australians are being encouraged to level up their plates this February as the Grains and Legumes Nutrition Council (GLNC) celebrates Pulses Week 2026, running from 9 to 15 February in line with World Pulses Day on 10 February.
With the theme Level Up with Legumes, this year's campaign highlights how adding legumes, such as lentils, chickpeas, beans and peas can support better health, affordability and sustainability, while making it easier to create nourishing meals every day.
Despite strong evidence supporting their role in a healthy diet, legumes remain under-consumed by Australians. Many people fall short of the recommended fibre intake, and legumes are one of the most cost-effective ways to boost fibre, plant protein, iron and other key nutrients. Regular legume consumption is associated with improved heart health, better blood glucose control and gut health, yet they are often overlooked on the Australian plate.
"Legumes are a simple way to level up everyday meals without adding cost or complexity," said Ms Kathy La Macchia, General Manager of GLNC. "They are affordable, versatile and nutrient-dense, and small additions, such as adding lentils to mince dishes or chickpeas to salads, can make a meaningful difference to overall diet quality."
To mark World Pulses Day on 10 February, GLNC will host an online cooking class for health professionals in partnership with Grams of Health. The interactive session will showcase practical, evidence-based ways to incorporate legumes into meals and snacks, equipping health professionals with tools and recipes they can confidently share with patients and clients.
As part of Pulses Week, GLNC has also launched a new legume-focused cookbook, featuring simple, budget-friendly recipes designed to help Australians make legumes a regular part of their meals. The recipes demonstrate how legumes can easily "level up" plates by enhancing nutrition, flavour and satiety, whether used as a main ingredient or added to familiar family favourites.
Ms La Macchia said Pulses Week is about making legumes feel achievable and relevant for everyday life. "At a time when cost of living pressures and chronic disease prevention are front of mind, legumes offer incredible value. They are one of the most practical foods we can promote to support both personal and planetary health. By helping Australians and health professionals see how easy it is to use legumes every day, we can shift habits and improve long-term health outcomes," she said.
Pulses Week is part of GLNC's ongoing commitment to improving public health through better nutrition. The campaign encourages Australians to level up their plates, meals and health by including legumes every day.
Free resources, recipes and information about Pulses Week are available at www.glnc.org.au/pulses-week-2026.
About us:
The Grains and Legumes Nutrition Council (GLNC) is a health promotion charity and not-for-profit organisation. It is the nutrition knowledge centre on grains and legumes.
