Why All the Fuss Over Whole Grains?

We hear all the time that whole-wheat bread is a better choice than white bread and brown rice is a better choice than white rice, but why? And what is the difference between the two?

Whole-wheat bread and brown rice are a healthier choice because they contain the entire grain, which has vitamins and fiber. Some examples of whole grains, are whole-wheat flour, oatmeal, whole cornmeal and brown rice. Refined grains, like white flour and white rice have been processed and the vitamins and fiber have been removed. Many refined grains are enriched and the vitamins are added back into the grain after it is processed; however, they are still missing the fiber.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), most Americans eat enough grains, but few are whole grains. The USDA recommends at least half of the grains you eat should be whole grains.

The USDA’s choosemyplate.gov provides tips on how to incorporate more whole grains in your family’s diets, including:

• Eating whole-wheat pasta and brown rice
• Purchasing whole-grain crackers, breads and cereals
• Popping popcorn as a snack
• Substituting whole-wheat or oat flour for white flour when baking

So next time you go to the grocery store, read the ingredient labels before you purchase breads or crackers to see if they are made up of whole grains. If it says “enriched,” move on. “Enriched” is a very nice way of saying the item has been processed!

Tell me, have you made the switch from “enriched” to whole grains? Do you have any tips for making the transition?