Is Granola a Healthy Choice?

Granola is a popular snack or cereal for many of us. It’s a major ingredient in trail mixes, which is a staple for our road trips and other travels. Some may also prefer it to sugary cereal or plain cornflakes for their breakfast. Others mix it into yogurt or add several more … Read more

Stack a Smarter Sandwich

Stack a Smarter Sandwich

Today is National Sandwich Day; but America’s favorite handheld meal isn’t always the greatest go-to when it comes to nutrition. According to one study, 49% of Americans age 20 and older eat a sandwich every day. And sandwiches account for roughly 1/5 of daily sodium intake. If you stack it wrong, your … Read more

Cereal Fiber Beats Back Diabetes Risk

Cereal Fiber Beats Back Diabetes Risk

If you need yet another reason to get your fiber on – a new study shows cereal fiber can help keep diabetes at bay. A study published in the journal Diabetologia showed that not only does dietary fiber help fight type 2 diabetes risk, but it also helps lower Body Mass Index … Read more

Grain Bashing Takes a Back Seat

Grain Bashing Takes a Back Seat

“Carbs are destroying your brain,” crows the Grain Brain diet book. While “Wheat is why you’re sick,” screams the Wheat Belly diet book. Despite a recent spate of grain bashing, new research indicates that eating grains has a more positive health impact than refraining from them. The Grain Foods Foundation (who, granted, … Read more

Gluten Free Grains, Guilt Free

Gluten Free Grains, Guilt Free

“I’ve only been gluten free for a week, but I’m already really annoying,” declares the cartoon caption from a recent New Yorker magazine. Almost as trendy as eating gluten free is the trend of writing about how gluten free diets aren’t healthy. And the gluten free bandwagon certainly has been taking a … Read more

Everything about Sprouted Grains

Mixed bean sprouts (shoots)

Healthy eating is a lifestyle: you start eating wholesome and healthy foods while also informing yourself on several things about organic food items and how they are grown. You start skimming down the list of ingredients in various packaged foods, such as bread. Of the numerous healthy items you can include in … Read more

Pelletized Fiber: Coming to Your Cereal Soon

Pelletized Fiber: Coming to Your Cereal Soon

General Mills announced recently that it has filed a patent on a technique to pelletize fiber and calcium for use in ready-to-eat (RTE) breakfast cereals. The process will use a gelatinized starch to coalesce calcium and fiber for the purpose of supplementing processed cereals. Mmmm… Is this a big deal? Well…General Mills … Read more

Ancient Grains Gobbledygook

Ancient Grains Gobbledygook

Ancient grains are having their day in the sun…and rightly so: grains like quinoa, buckwheat, amaranth, and spelt are being “rediscovered” and lauded for their nutrition benefits and whole grain attributes. In their pure form, these whole grains are good sources of fiber, B vitamins and other minerals and nutrients. But as … Read more

The 10:1 Ratio for Choosing Whole Grains

The 10:1 Ratio for Choosing Whole Grains

Even whole-grain gurus have a tough time deciphering front of package whole-grain claims. With 34,000 new whole grain products introduced in 2012 (compared to just 264 in 2001), it has become increasingly difficult to determine just how different “made with whole grain” really is from “100% whole grain”. Now, from the Harvard … Read more

The Doctor is In!

The Doctor is In!

Doctor Kracker is at it again. Hot on the tails of their delicious high-fiber crispbreads (featured in a previous post here) comes a smaller, bite-sized snack, the Doctor Kracker Culinary Crisps. If you like Asiago cheese, you’ll love these! A 10-cracker serving gets you: 130 calories 2.5 g fat (0.5 g saturated) … Read more

International Year of Quinoa

International Year of Quinoa

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has designated 2013 as the International Year of Quinoa. Heralded for its unique nutritional properties and environmental adaptability, the UN is positioning this cereal-like grain as a key player in the global fight against hunger and food insecurity. With its tag line, “Quinoa, a … Read more

Pastorelli Pizza Crusts

Pastorelli Pizza Crusts

While high fiber pizza crusts are nothing new, Pastorelli Ultra Thin & Crispy 100% Whole Wheat Pizza Crusts certainly are. These delectable and, as the name says, “Ultra thin” crusts are a much-needed addition to the prepared pizza crust world! I picked up a packet of Pastorellis at World Market, and for … Read more

Ezekiel Bread: The Wheat Belly Antidote

Ezekiel Bread: The Wheat Belly Antidote

If you have a gut – it is trendy to be referring to it not as a gut, but rather as a “Wheat Belly”. The Wheat Belly craze – based on the eponymous diet book – claims (erroneously) that wheat-containing and processed foods made with wheat act like opiate drugs, promoting addictive … Read more

Cracklin’ Crack Down

Cracklin’ Crack Down

An inquisitive reader wrote to ask about one of her favorite cereals, Kellogg’s Cracklin’ Oat Bran: “I’m concerned about my fiber intake and I have been eating Kellogg’s Cracklin’ Oat Bran…is this a good source of fiber?” – Jamie from San Diego Great question Jamie! So, what about this Cracklin’ Oat Bran? … Read more

Cutting Corners with Popcorners

Cutting Corners with Popcorners

Consumers are often surprised to learn that popcorn is a whole grain. That’s right, if you take away the liquid butter and seas of salt – popcorn is on its own, a wholesome, healthy snack. So then why put it in a chip? Well, the folks at Popcorners saw the potential to … Read more

Give Your Pizza a Flatout Facelift

Give Your Pizza a Flatout Facelift

If you think fat and flour when you think of pizza – think again. I recently tried Flatout Flat Breads as an alternative to pizza crust, thanks in part to a generous sample package sent by Flatouts coupled with a hankering for some healthy pizza. Pizza can be a nutritious delivery vehicle … Read more