Eating whole grains can help you consume more fiber and get the protein that you need each day. Whole grains also provide some of the vitamins and minerals that your body needs to be healthy, including B vitamins and zinc. There are times when doctors and dietitians recommend that people get more whole grains into their diets to help fight obesity and other weight issues. If you are wondering how you can start to add more whole grains to your diet so that you can be healthy, know that the answer is simple and there are some basic changes that you can make to live healthier.
1. Start Your Day with Whole Grains
There are many breakfast options that you can choose to start your day right and get whole grains into your body right away. If you are someone who loves having a smoothie for breakfast each day, you can add different types of grains to that smoothie and grind them up right along with the other ingredients in the drink. If you like to eat a hot breakfast, you might choose to consume oatmeal or even hot buckwheat. There are casseroles that you can make for breakfast that have whole grains in them, and there are simple dishes that you can put together with brown rice and other whole grains that are breakfast appropriate.
2. Add Whole Grains to the Lunch that You Take with You
When making a sandwich to take to the office, consider making that sandwich on a whole grain bread. Read the ingredients on the bread with care, making sure that it is actually a bread that is made out of whole grains and not just one that is claiming to be healthy. If you enjoy eating salads and you usually pack yourself a salad to take to work, consider adding grain to the salad. There are many ways that you can do this, and one of the simplest options is to add a little cooked quinoa to the other ingredients that you are using to make up the salad. If you heat up your lunch at work, you can create a dish with brown rice or quinoa and a mix of healthy vegetables.
3. Look for Whole Grain Options at Restaurants
When you are eating out, you might be tempted to just eat what you want and forget about consuming whole grains. Know that there are many tasty whole grain options available at restaurants to help you feel satisfied and to help you be healthy. Look for meals that contain brown rice or quinoa. When eating at a fast food place, see if they have oatmeal on their menu all day long and order that.
4. Make Desserts that Contain Whole Grains
One of the tastiest ways to get more whole grains into your diet is by adding whole grains to the desserts that you love. If you love crisps and cobblers, you can add oatmeal to those to help them be filled with the benefits that whole grains offer. If you are making cookies, you might consider substituting whole wheat flour for some of the white flour that the recipes call for. You can make rice pudding out of a healthier and more whole rice option, and you can turn baked oatmeal into a sweet and tasty dessert.
There are different ways that you can add whole grains to your diet and help your body get the nutrients that they offer. If you are concerned about your health, you can figure out ways to incorporate whole grains into the food that you eat.
