You’ve likely heard that whole grains are good for you, but there’s a whole lot more to whole grains than brown rice. Farro, sorghum, bulgar, quinoa: More and more supermarkets are stocking up on ancient grains, a group of super foods that increasingly is becoming mainstream. General Mills even released an ancient-grain-powered Cheerios variety in late 2014!
Why all the hype? Whole grains (grains with all three parts of the kernel) contain vastly more protein, fiber, and nutrients than refined grains. Some choose to eat old-world grains because they have been cultivated and harvested for thousands of years—unlike modern varieties of wheat—and many of these grains are gluten-free. Others just love the flavor variety the wide world of grains brings to the table.
Here are three great grains (and 9 great recipes) to get put your family on the path to whole-grain health!
Photo by sf_foodphoto / iStock
1. Farro
Wonderfully nutty and a little chewy, farro was a dietary staple in ancient Rome and is still highly popular with Italian chefs today.
Cheesy Baked Farro: Parmesan, fontina, and Gruyere make this dish absolutely de-lish.
This hearty grain originated in ancient Africa and spread to India and China via the Silk Road. Sorghum can be eaten like popcorn, or incorporated into pilafs and salads.
Sorghum Salad: Need to take a salad to a neighborhood picnic? This fits the bill. (Perfect for a work lunch, too!)
Popped Sorghum: Smaller and lighter than popcorn, popped sorghum is, well, adorable. It can take a little practice to get the heat right, but will delight the kids!
Photo by dlerick / iStock
3. Quinoa
Perhaps the best known ancient grain, quinoa isn’t a grain at all, but a gluten-free seed domesticated thousands of years ago in South America. A traditional staple food source from the pre-Columbian Andes, quinoa has a high protein content making it popular with present-day eaters as well.
Quinoa Chocolate Cake: The first line of this flourless cake recipe is, “This cake has blown my mind.” It blew ours, too. Try it for a special occasion.
KinderCare aims to protect your privacy online the way we protect your family in person, with care and caution. To improve the website experience, this site uses cookies as described in our Cookie Notice. Click allow to consent to the use of this technology on our site. To learn more, please visit our Legal Notices Page.