2. Be very careful, ‘wheat’ bread sound just as healthy as ‘whole wheat’ bread but its merely a blend of white and whole wheat flour. Remember that a product labeled ‘whole wheat’ must be made from 100 percent whole wheat flour.

3. Choose breads with at least 2 grams of fiber per slice.

4. If youre looking to save calories, try whole wheat, reduced-calorie breads (approximately 40 calories per slice with 2 grams of fiber).

5. Take advantage of the fiber that some cereals pack in, and choose varieties that have at least 2 grams of fiber per serving. You can usually (not always) get a sense of whether a cereal has fiber from the name on the box (Bran Flakes, All- Bran, 100% Bran, Raisin Bran, Fiber-One, Shredded Wheat, and Corn Bran).

6. Dont be fooled. Some cereals pack in more sugar and salt, check the Total Carbohydrates against the Sugars (on the nutrition label) to make sure sugar is not a main ingredient. In fact, opt for the brands that report 6 grams of sugar or less per serving. If your kids (or spouse) insist on the sugary brands, mix it with half a bowl of a healthier look-a-like (for instance, half Frosted Flakes and half Bran Flakes).

7. Check the serving size. Some of the denser, heavier cereals only allot a miniscule amount for one serving. Take this into consideration if you plan to eat a normal size bowl (and youre watching your weight). Remember, double the serving size means double the calories.

8. Dont forget to throw some hot cereal into your cart. Whether you opt for the instant or the kind that requires cooking, stick with unsweetened varieties of oatmeal, grits, cream of rice, and cream of wheat. You can sweeten them with some of the fresh fruit you bought in the produce section.

9. Most cereals are low in fat with the exception of granola and others that add nuts, seeds, coconut, and oils. Read the label and choose cereals with no more than 2 grams of fat per serving.

10. Read the list of ingredients on your cereal box and make sure that wheat, rye, corn, or oats are listed first. Items are listed in the order of quantity.

The base of the New Food Pyramid is still grains - but the focus has turned to make sure there are more WHOLE grains, not just empty starch. Interestingly enough though you can see (if you click on the image) that the allowance is for only half of the grains to be whole grain. My personal opinion is that this is still cutting us short of our much needed fiber and vitamins in our diets that we can get from only whole grains.

A diet which consists of virtually all fo the grain choices as whole grain is healthier than what is recommended. Remember, however, even if you consume only whole grains as your base, there still is a limit of how much to consume.

Best Blessings!
Donna Miller
http://www.millersgrainhouse.com/store