Grains from Culinate.com
Since I am into making lists these days, I though I would write out my own list of accessible Super Foods. I'm not going to go into things like Spirulina, because I want to keep this real. Real food for Real People! I am going to start with my favorites and move out from there.
The Whole Grains
1. Quinoa - The first time I remember trying quinoa was about three years ago. There was a tuna sandwich at the Lifetime Fitness Cafe that I LOVED and it came with a side of quinoa salad. I remember thinking it was weird at the time, but then tried my friend Keysha's quinoa salad at a neighborhood block party and ate about five bowls (in hindsight, not the best idea). It cooks up just like a grain, but it is classified as a seed. It has all of the essential amino acids that you need, making it the perfect protein.
2. Brown Rice - I do not eat brown rice more than maybe once a week. I would rather have quinoa. I do love a good wild rice on occasion as well. I keep it to a minimum, because of the inflammation factor. Most grains do cause some inflammation, especially wheat, and ESPECIALLY white flour. If you are trying to lose weight, I recommend limiting your grain intake to once a day in the mornings.
3. Oatmeal - High in protein and fiber, oatmeal is my breakfast of champions. I mix it with cinnamon. While it isn't the perfect whole grain, it is accessible and real people eat it. If you can stick to steel cut oats, all the better.
Note: By whole grains, I mean real grains. Not a box of cereal that says, "57 grams of whole grains!" That is false advertising. The grains are not whole, they are processed. They may have once been whole, but fruit loops with whole grains is not the same thing as an actual whole grain no matter what we would love to believe!
If you want to learn more about whole grains, check out this website. Get creative and branch out! For a wonderful recipe from my friend Hilary using whole grains, click here!
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