November 8, 2017
Understanding “Whole Grains”
We are bombarded with numerous health claims on foods we consume everyday. Did you know that many of these “whole grain” claims can be very misleading? You may think you’re getting the most out of your foods but unfortunately a lot of these claims are mostly for marketing purposes and it’s possible you aren’t. With a few key things to look for next time you’re choosing which product to buy you’ll be able to make the real healthier choice.
4 Tips
- Just because it says “whole grains” or has a “whole grain” logo on the package it doesn’t mean 100% whole grain. Even refined white flour with a very small portion of whole wheat added back in can be labelled this way. Look for words like whole wheat flour at the top of the ingredient list.
- “Made with whole grains” – again, this could only have a small portion of a whole grain added into the recipe and could still be made with a majority of refined grains and sugars.
- “Multi-grain” – sounds like a variety of healthy nutrients all in one but don’t be fooled. Multi-grain simply means just that, more than one type of grain. This has no indication of the quality of the grains or how refined they might be.
- Avoid words like “enriched” or “bleached”. Enriched white flour is still highly refined and not nearly as nutritious as 100% whole grain flour.
Where is it found on the ingredient list? If sugar, corn syrup, or fructose is listed above grains its not a healthy choice. Ingredients are listed in order of amount. This means the higher it is on the list, the more of that ingredient is included in the recipe.
Something I always keep in mind when purchasing products is that no matter what it says anywhere on the package, everything you need to know is in the nutritional information and ingredient list. Hopefully these tips will simplify your next shopping experience and you’ll be feeling more whole grain savvy.
