Whole Grain Help!

All the talk about whole grains has me confused. I know they’re supposed to be good for you. What’s the best way to work them into my family meals AND have my family love what I cook?

Whole Grain Help!

You're not the only one that's confused. I have a hard time myself sometimes. Here's a few tricks I do to include whole grains. I always sub brown rice for white rice - easy speasy! If you're looking for a healthy snack, popcorn without all the extras (without all the extras is the key) is worth considering - you can eat 3 cups for one serving. You might like to try Wild Blueberry Chews - just search for it on Betty Crocker - it's this delicious cookie made with an easy oatmeal cookie mix and has wheat germ too. You can use raisins instead of the blueberries. And if I really want to get smart and get some great recipes, I check out the Betty Crocker whole grains cookbook - you can find it on the BettyCrockerStore.com or at book stores. Hope that helps!  

Whole Grain Help!

i use wheat bran flakes and add it to all of me baking or even pancakes. it is very cheap if bought in bulk and add no concernable taste to your recipes.

Whole Grain Help!

Can someone tell me if instant brown rice is as good nutritionally as regular brown rice.  What is the difference?  Thanks

Whole Grain Help!

Well depending on who you talk to they will each have a different opinion on that.  If your looking for whole grains with a low GI, then you want to stay away fron Quick and Instant.  They seem to have less nutritional value, fibre and they have a higher GI value.  I got away from them along time ago.  I like whole grain wheat/mixed grain bread, always have.  Learned to combine beans and corn and beans and rice because they make complete protiens and it was a good way to learn about different cultures and food combos.  Use Whole wheat pastry flour in your recipes that call for white flour.  You get the benifits but not as noticeable.  good way to get your family used to fibre and textures in there foods.  Read, knowledge is power, have fun with it.  Try whole wheat couscous, its really good.  Quinoa (Keen-wa) is really good a ancient grain from south america, remember to wash it under running water for 3 minutes, it has a bittercoat that it wears.  This is a natural way that the grain keeps the insects from eating it.  No toxic sprays needed.

Whole Grain Help!

clerkmom, I understand that instant rice has been slightly cooked and dried where as the other hasn't. Some believe that takes away some of the vitamins. Whole or rolled oats are whole grain and the can be used in any recipe calling for oats. You can also grind/blend them into oat flour (in the blender) and use up to 1/3 of it in just about any recipe calling for flour, you can also sub. 1/3. whole wheat flour in the same recipe. Thus only using 1/3 white flour, however the taste and texture will be different. If your family isn't used to wheat flour or bread you might want to make the change slowly, because it will taste different and have a different texture. Cerals that are whole grain are another way. Lots of luck, :-)

Whole Grain Help!

Just an FYI, short grain brown rice is an easy transition from white rice. Short grain brown has all the nutrition of regular brown rice, and it's very tender.