There is a whole-grain mystery hidden in the grocery store

As good, health-conscious individuals, we have all read the study about whole grains and because our health is important we all want to increase our whole grain intake. The truth is, while whole grains ARE very good for you, are they at their best when you are relying upon on the grocery store and labels as you search for them? This answer may astonish you.

The paradox of buying whole grains goods from a grocery store is a slippery slope. It’s almost like you need a decoder ring or a law degree to see exactly what you are buying.

The phrase ‘made with whole grains’ or ‘a good source of whole grain’ makes us have the sense that we are buying items that are all around better for our well-being. The truth is, phrases like these should be read as their precise meaning rather than the key terms of 'whole grain' leaping out at you. As we look at the phrases in the light of ingredients, we will see that very few items are actually completely whole grain on the grocery shelf.

By law, we know there has to be some whole grain in the ingredients, so why not trust the label? When we looking at the ingredient, if the words ‘bleached’ or ‘enriched’ are listed, then the flour that is the most destructive to your colon is still in what you are hoping to have as healthy choice. The label may read, 'made with whole grains' but it does not have to be more than 51% of the flour to be considered a source or made with whole grains.

So, now what? We don’t have the secret decoder ring or pocket dictionary for legal jargon to take to the grocery store! How can we get real whole grains in our diets? If we want to be healthy and actually have those whole grains in their best form, we need to mill our own flour from real WHOLE kernels of grain.

With as little as 5 simple ingredients, all of which I can spell and pronounce, I am able to make: pita bread, hoagie rolls, burger/hot dog buns, whole wheat bagels, bread for sandwiches, and more! The variety is endless! By the time I've read all the grocery store labels while trying to shop for what’s healthy, I could have made loaf of fresh bread at home – from grinding the wheat kernels to taking it warm, out of the oven.