In my last article I discussed four benefits of consuming whole grain products. Today I’m going to be discussing the areas of your diet where you can make effective whole grain substitutes.
1) BREAD:- Bread is a staple of many people’s diets and really it’s no surprise. Sandwiches are quick to prepare, portable, practical and can be eaten on the go. Whether you are walking somewhere, you are on a bus or train or even if you are at your desk, a sandwich can provide you with a quick, convenient mini meal. Unfortunately, a lot of people choose to make their sandwiches with white bread instead of the healthier whole grain version.
Most people say this is because of the taste. For many years, I convinced myself that I didn’t like the taste of whole grain bread and that is why I ate white bread. However, about a year ago I forced myself to make the switch. I’ll admit for the first week I did notice the difference in taste and wanted to go back to white bread BUT after this first week I got used to the taste and actually started to enjoy eating whole grain bread. When I try white bread now I don’t mind it but I find whole grain bread has a much richer, more satisfying flavour.
If (like I did) you are struggling to cope with the difference in taste between white bread and whole grain bread I recommend you force yourself to change for one week. I think you will be surprised at how much your tastes will alter during this period.
2) PASTA:- Pasta is another favourite amongst many people. Like bread it’s quick and convenient to prepare and can also be eaten hot or cold making it another practical choice. However, many people choose to eat white pasta. I don’t think this is so much of a taste issue as I don’t think white pasta and whole grain pasta taste massively different. I just think most people aren’t aware of whole grain pasta as an alternative. However, I highly recommend next time you buy some pasta you go for the whole grain version.
3) RICE:- Rice is another popular choice for evening meals as it goes perfectly with casseroles, curries and stews. However, once again white rice is the dominant choice for many people. whole grain rice does taste different to white rice – it’s got a thicker, crunchier texture BUT like with whole grain bread it is a taste that grows on you. Give it a try and I think you will quickly start to enjoy the richer taste.
4) CRACKERS:- I find that crackers are a really great whole grain substitute for biscuits. They taste great on their own or with cheese. Plus, they’re a lot better for you than biscuits too. I highly recommend that next time you fancy a biscuit substitute it with a whole grain cracker.
If you want to get more whole grain products into your diet then the above recommendations should help you massively. People are naturally resistant to change and I think that’s half the battle with whole grain products. However, give them a chance and I firmly believe that you will learn to love them and start getting the full nutritional value from your food.
What do you guys think? Have any of you struggled making the switch over to whole grain products? Do you have any further tips for those who want to make the change?