Good For You Grains

We can’t discuss the letter G without giving our whole devotion to Grains!  Grain are so versatile and can be so delicious! The USDA’s recommendation, is to make half your grains.  I’d say make them all whole grains! Why not?

• More filling as compared to refined grains.
• Blood sugar stays more even when you eat the whole grain, as compared to refined.
• The carbs are packaged with fiber, protein, and vitamins for a more complete meal!
• Studies show people who eat whole grains are less likely to be overweight.
• When you include the bran and germ with your grain, you also get Vitamin B1, B2, B3, and E
• The bran and germ also has folic acid, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, iron and fiber!  All lost during refining.

• Brown Rice
• Whole Wheat
• Oats
• Rye
• Barley
• Bulgur
• Buckwheat
• Quinoa
• Spelt  (I actually do not know what this is!!)
• Corn
• Millet

A yummy way to get in your whole grains is to make your own bread and buns.  I love to make our own hamburger buns. In fact, I think it’s quite simple to make your own, although I don’t always have the time of course. For these mini-burgers  I used my regular bread recipe (with our Great River Organic Whole Wheat Flour), and instead of forming into bread loaves, I just made little balls of dough.  We also used the chick-en nugget recipe (vegetarian nuggets), and made hamburger patty shapes.  Chickpea- Patties !  They turned out fabulous!

I love feeding my 2 year old nephew!  He is so much cuter to photograph than my children who are getting so jaded about posing for my blog while they eat.  Let’s just say, their photo’s are turning out more and more staged each time as they whine about me “getting the picture over with”.  But this cute guy loves it!  I’ve been trying to steal him since he was born from my sister .