How to enjoy more whole grains in your diet

Try these tips to add more whole grains to your meals and snacks:

• Enjoy breakfasts that include whole-grain cereals, such as whole-wheat bran flakes, shredded wheat or oatmeal.
• Substitute whole-wheat toast or whole-grain bagels for plain bagels. Substitute low-fat, whole-grain muffins for pastries.
• Make sandwiches using whole-grain breads or rolls.
• Use whole-wheat tortillas instead of white-flour tortillas.
• Use whole-grain pastas.
• Replace white rice with brown rice, wild rice, bulgur, barley or other grains.
• Use wild rice or barley in soups, stews, casseroles and salads.
• Add whole grains, such as cooked brown rice or whole-grain breadcrumbs, to ground meat or poultry for extra bulk.
• Use rolled oats or crushed whole-wheat bran cereal in recipes instead of dried breadcrumbs.

Eating a variety of whole grains ensures that you get more health-promoting nutrients. A variety also helps make your meals and snacks more interesting.