Grains

Imagine a food crop that defies drought, thrives in depleted soil, and is easy on the environment. It packs a powerful nutritional punch, and is gluten-free and rich in whole grain goodness. This supercrop not only tastes amazing but also cooks quickly, conserving energy. Introducing fonio, the most amazing cereal crop most people have never heard of. Discover why, despite its many positive qualities, fewer and fewer farmers want to grow it, and what you can do to help.

Buckwheat is an ancient grain that deserves more and better press than it gets. It’s gluten-free, chock-full of nutrients, and tasty. Plus, it retains its whole grain qualities even as a flour. While buckwheat is a common ingredient in some Asian and Eastern European cuisines, it hasn’t yet made much of a culinary or nutritional splash in the West. So what is buckwheat, and why should most people eat more of it?

While processed grains like those made from white flour can lead to health problems, many whole grains might actually be good for you. So what makes something a whole grain? What kinds are available beyond wheat, rice, and corn? And how can you safely incorporate them into a healthy, convenient, and economical lifestyle?

Roughly one-quarter of all calories consumed in the United States come from refined flour made from grains — mostly wheat. Maybe that’s fine — after all, humans have been grinding grain into flour for tens of thousands of years. And, maybe it isn’t — modern milling methods produce flour that may be contributing to our twin epidemics of obesity and chronic disease. In this article, we’ll discuss the different kinds of flour, which are healthier than others, and how can you healthfully incorporate them into your diet.

In this episode of our How to Cook video series, you’ll explore the delicious and nutritious world of whole grains with Food Revolution Network’s Dietitian and Recipe Developer, Nichole Dandrea-Russert, RDN. Learn why you may want to embrace and enjoy a variety of whole grains if you want optimal health. And watch Nichole’s video to learn how to prepare three different types of healthy whole grains — quinoa, brown rice, and Kamut.

If you’re looking to expand your whole grain consumption beyond the usual suspects (wheat, rice, and corn), then the tiny, gluten-free “pseudocereal” called Amaranth is definitely worth attention. Prolific, resilient, and rich in health-promoting compounds, this ancient Mesoamerican grain is poised to feed the world. In this article, we’ll explore the history of amaranth, its benefits, and how you can use it.

Teff is a tiny grain that delivers big-time nutrition. It has a longstanding history, deep cultural significance, and remarkable nutritional value.

Tempeh, like tofu, is a soybean-based food often used as a meat substitute. Unlike its better-known cousin, tempeh is a whole food — and a fermented one at that. It’s also denser than tofu and requires different cooking methods to bring out its deliciousness. In this article, you’ll learn why and how you might want to add this popular Asian delicacy to your diet.

For many, it’s hard to imagine life without bread. And yet, for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities, giving up the “staff of life” may have seemed like the only option. Fortunately for bread lovers, gluten-free baking has come a long way in the past decade. In this article, you’ll discover the joys of healthy, whole-grain, gluten-free bread baking.

Most of us know oats best in the form of oatmeal. But this isn’t the only way to consume these nutrient-packed whole grains. So what are the health benefits of eating oats, and are there any downsides to consider?

Quinoa is the tasty, nutty, and tiny seed of the quinoa plant. It’s rich in fiber and protein, easy to prepare, and delicious in a wide variety of dishes. Quinoa is low on the glycemic index, and a source of manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, and folate. And it’s gluten-free, to boot. But is this tiny pseudo-grain as healthy as people claim? Is it ethical and sustainable? And how do you cook it?

Modern grains produced by the industrialized food system are highly processed, tainted with pesticides and GMOs, and often relatively devoid of nutrition. But farmers and everyday people are beginning to diversify their grain sources, rejecting modern variations in favor of local, heritage, or ancient grains. As a result, communities are reclaiming their heritage — and their health.