52-Week Challenge: Week Fifteen

Happy Easter, everyone!  I hope you are all enjoying time with your families and enjoying the glorious fact of the empty tomb today.  He is RISEN!

A short post to get you up to speed on this week's challenge, which is entitled "Put the Whole in Your Grains."  This week, choose grains that are whole instead of those that are refined.

Whole grains contain all parts of the seed, which means they are loaded with fiber and other nutrients.  Consuming them can lower your risk for things such as stroke, diabetes, heart disease, and tooth loss.  They can also lower your blood pressure, your cholesterol, and your weight.  However, most foods are made with "refined grains," which means parts of the seed are removed, lowering their fiber and nutritional contents.

Luckily, the public is wising up to the benefits of whole grain, and there are many choices now available on the market.  Look for ingredients (I hope you're all still reading the ingredient list!), look for things such as brown rice, oats or oatmeal, whole grain (fill in the blank), or whole wheat as the first few ingredients.  But beware--just because something says it is "multigrain" or made with "wheat flour" does NOT mean it is whole grain!  Check out the book for a complete list of whole grain terms.

Some ideas to incorporate whole grain into your diet:

*Breakfast: Whole grain cereals, oatmeal, shredded wheat, whole wheat toast/bagels/english muffins.
*Lunch/Dinner:  Whole wheat tortillas, whole wheat pasta, brown rice in lieu of white rice, add whole wheat breadcrumbs to your meat recipes, and try adding whole grains such as barley to your salads.

Alright, that's all for today.  Best of luck, and Happy Easter!

"After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.  There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it . . . The angel said to the women, ' Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he is risen, just as he said.  Come and see the place where he lay." --Matthew 28: 1-6