Nutrition pop quiz: white rice or brown? If you picked brown, you may know this whole grain is the healthier choice, but what’s so good about it? Read on for details about what whole grains really are and why they’re so much more nutritious. We’ll also recommend 10 tasty whole grains to take to the dinner table.
What’s a Whole Grain?
A whole grain is the seed, including all the nutrients to form a new plant. It’s “whole” because all three parts are intact. When you eat all the parts of a grain, you get all of the nutrients, which is why a whole grain is such a healthy choice. Refined grains, on the other hand, are processed to remove the nutritious bran and germ, leaving only the high-calorie, high-carb endosperm.
An Example: Whole-Wheat Flour Versus Refined Wheat Flour
10 Whole Grains to Add to Your Diet
Nutritionists recommend at least three ounces of whole grains daily. A three-ounce serving of whole grain looks like:
Boost your nutrition game with any of the 10 whole grains below! Familiar grains, such as oats and brown rice, are listed first. Wander down the list for delicious options you may not have tried yet.