Grains 101 - Add Quinoa Millet & Kamut To Your Diet

I am going to introduce you to some wheat alternatives! We do not have to just settle with breads, cereals and crackers which are made of corn, wheat or rice. Although brown rice or oats are wonderful clean and whole foods to add to the diet, they can become boring.

With the rise in awareness of health issues related to wheat allergy people are seeking alternatives to their pastas and breads. The kicker is that these grains are also higher in protein than wheat and better for those looking to remain trim yet still be able to enjoy a few of these starchy dishes. Making a comeback from ancient days, introducing..

Grains and Descriptions

One of my absolute favorites is quinoa. Not only does this grain cook in 15 minutes but it has a mild nutty taste and nice firm texture. It is smaller than rice grains, usually comes organic and is very affordable. If you are looking for a higher protein grain that is safe to use while on fat loss dieting then this is the one. You will find yourself looking forward to your meal just because of this light grain. A great way to have quinoa is to bake it with roasted garlic once it is cooked, for a short period, enough to infuse the garlic flavor into the grain without drying out the grain.

Millet is a common bird treat and seed but it is not only for the birds and obviously the birds are not as small minded as we thought. This grain is another super food with diet friendly nutrients and a wonderfully nutty side taste. Ground down this grain is ideal for breads.

Amaranth gives us both seed and plant which are edible. The seed has a nutty taste and is commonly ground down for use as flour. As pasta you would barely notice a difference from regular pasta as it holds the same firmness and characteristics. As the others mentioned this grain also holds a higher protein level than other common grains. Easily cooked like rice, this grain adds to the variety of your choices.

Kamut is very close to wheat yet larger with higher protein content. Egyptologists claim that the meaning of ‘kamut’ is ‘soul of the earth’. I think all the grains covered here are definitely earth’s gifts to us. Vegetarianism can be easily achieved with the addition of these higher protein grains. Tasty and healthy, there is not as high a fiber content so I like to mix this with the grain below!

Spelt is yet another species of ancient wheat. I love spelt pasta as it’s so much heartier and healthier at the same time. Much better for those looking to keep lean yet have some pasta each week without busting the gut!

Whichever grains you choose to try or combine you cannot go wrong as they are an essential part of the diet. Carbs are needed but it’s the choice and amounts of carb which make the difference.

By Linda Cusmano