Chew, Chew, Whole Grains!

 Grains,  Grains, Glorious Grains!  This week and last I have been teaching young children about the importance of eating whole grains.  Our Local Matters, Food Is Elementary program teaches children about the importance of eating vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and plant based proteins (because they are typically under- represented in the standard American diet).  There are so many beautiful things about this program, and one of them is that it reminds the adults (food educators, classroom teachers, volunteers, school staff, etc) about the importance of these foods too!  

   Since working for Local matters, I have been stepping up my whole grain intake, making sure to opt for the brown rice, and cooking grains such as spelt, barely, and quinoa.  Not only are these grains delicious, but they provide our bodies with important B and E vitamins.  In fact, all brown whole foods have vitamins B and E.  When we eat the white rice, bread, pasta, etc.  we are only getting a very small percentage of these vitamins.  Therefore, we teach children the phrase "brown is better" when it comes to whole grains. 

     Last week we read a story to our pre-school children, called The Whole Grain Choo-Choo Train!  Students pulled their hands up and down to blow the whiste and said "Choo- Choo Whole Grains, Brown is Better."  We tasted brown rice cooked in vegetable broth, which they loved! And, this week, the students are trying brown bread, crackers, tortillas, and pita chips.  So far, so good!  

    Not only do whole grains have vitamins B and E, but some also have protein.  When eating spelt pasta, for example, I get 8 grams of protein in one serving.  As a vegetarian, this is helpful.  I can enjoy my marinara sauce and still have some protein to help me feel full and focused.  I am including a link to a grains cooking chart, with simple directions for cooking many types of grains.  I am also including a delicious Spelt recipe.  Enjoy and...Chew, Chew, Whole Grains!  Elizabeth

http://www.vegparadise.com/charts.html ( Grains Cooking Chart)

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/recipes/summer-spelt-medley-539758/ (Spelt Salad Recipe)