Common Whole Grain Foods

The list of common whole grain foods includes items easy-to-find at the supermarket, and can be added to your diet in place of, or in addition to, foods you already enjoy. The grains themselves are suitable for a vegetarian or vegan diet. but be sure to check labels for packaged items to see what other ingredients are added.

Whole Grain Breads

Whole grain bread products are widely available and come in different varieties. When choosing whole grain bread, opt for 100% whole wheat or whole grain to get the maximum boost. Some breads offer a smaller percentage of whole wheat, which means refined white flour has been substituted for part of the whole grains. Whole grain breads can be found in the following forms:

Whole Grain Pasta

In addition to breads, many starchy pastas also come in whole grain options. In addition to plain wheat, many pastas now come in a variety of whole grain sources, and are available in all the standard pasta shapes like macaroni noodles and lasagna.

Whole Grain Cereals

When most people think of cereal, they may be thinking of fast, sugary cold cereal. However, there are many different cereals that are made with whole grains.

Steel cut oats Rolled oats Barley Buckwheat Granola Grape Nuts Cheerios Kashi Instant Hot Cereal Shredded Wheat

Whole Grain Side Dishes

It's easy to include whole grains in your diet by serving them as a side dish. You can cook and serve many of these grains as is, or you can add flavor with vegetables and broths.

Brown rice Wild rice Kasha (whole grain buckwheat) Wheatberries Bulgur (cracked wheat)

Whole Grain Snacks

It's also possible to get whole grains in your diet through snack foods. While these snacks do contain whole grains, remember to eat them in moderation, along with a healthy, balanced diet.

Popcorn Whole wheat crackers Whole rice crackers Corn chips Granola bars

Whole Grain Flours

If you choose to do your own baking, you may desire some whole grain flours to cook with. There are several to choose from, and each lends a different taste to the finished product.