Nutrition Education Series tips to help you eat whole grains€¦ · 04/02/2014  · example, eat...

United StatesDepartment of Agriculture Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion

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make simple switches To make half your grains whole grains, substitute a whole-grainproductforarefined-grainproduct. For example, eat 100% whole-wheat breador bagels instead of white bread or bagels,orbrownriceinsteadofwhiterice.

whole grains can be healthy snacks Popcorn, a whole grain, can be ahealthysnack.Makeitwith littleornoaddedsaltorbutter.Also,try100%whole-wheatorryecrackers.

save some time Cookextrabulgurorbarleywhenyouhavetime. Freeze half to heat and serve later as a quick sidedish.

mix it up with whole grains Use whole grains in mixed dishes, such as barley in vegetable soups or stews and bulgur wheat in casserolesorstir-fries.Tryaquinoasaladorpilaf.

try whole-wheat versions Forachange,trybrownriceorwhole-wheatpasta.Trybrownricestuffinginbakedgreenpeppersortomatoes, and whole-wheat macaroni inmacaroniandcheese.

bake up some whole-grain goodness Experiment by substituting buckwheat, millet, or oat flourforuptohalfoftheflourinpancake,waffle,muffin,orotherflour-basedrecipes.Theymayneedabitmoreleaveninginordertorise.

be a good role model for children Set a good example for children by serving and eatingwholegrainseverydaywithmealsorassnacks.

checkthelabelforfiber UsetheNutritionFactslabeltocheckthefibercontentofwhole-grainfoods.Goodsourcesoffibercontain 10% to 19% of the Daily Value;excellentsourcescontain20%ormore.

know what to look for on the ingredients list Read the ingredients list and choose products that name a whole-grain ingredient first onthelist.Lookfor“wholewheat,”“brownrice,”“bulgur,”“buckwheat,”“oatmeal,”“whole-graincornmeal,”“wholeoats,”“wholerye,”or“wildrice.”

be a smart shopper The color of a food is not an indication that it is awhole-grainfood.Foodslabeledas“multi-grain,”“stone-ground,”“100%wheat,”“crackedwheat,”“seven-grain,”or“bran”areusually not 100% whole-grain products, and may not contain anywholegrain.

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make half your grains whole

10 tips to help you eat whole grainsAny food made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley, or another cereal grain is a grain product. Bread,pasta,oatmeal,breakfastcereals,tortillas,andgritsareexamples.Grainsaredividedintotwosubgroups, whole grains and refined grains.Wholegrainscontaintheentiregrainkernel—the bran, germ, and endosperm.Peoplewhoeatwholegrainsaspartofahealthydiethaveareducedriskofsomechronicdiseases.

Go to www.ChooseMyPlate.gov for more information.

10 tips

Nutrition Education Series

DG TipSheet No. 4

June 2011USDA is an equal opportunity

provider and employer.