I am a complete carb addict! Give me bread and I will devour it, just ask my husband. I have yet to meet a carb I truly dislike, it is my diet downfall. With that being said I try to eat whole grains in favor of “white” carbs because they are healthier, they keep me full longer and I don’t feel as guilty when I do indulge although keeping it to one serving is best!!
I actually do love whole grain products and mostly prefer them over “white” or non-whole grain products. Although every once in awhile I do eat a piece of white bread or regular pasta, it happens, I won’t beat myself up over it try to keep it to a minimum. My favorite whole grains are oatmeal, barley, bulgur, brown rice, whole grain pasta and the list goes on and on.
It is not enough to buy a product with “wheat” in the ingredients list, it has to say “whole wheat”, without the “whole” part you are not actually getting a whole grain just a piece of it that is mostly starch with no real nutritional value. Whole grains provide fiber, antioxidants and phytonutrients in addition to being low in fat and cholesterol! I always try to choose whole grains for myself and my family over other products because of all the health benefits.
Benefits of whole grains include:
Reduced risk of heart disease
Reduced risk of stroke
Reduced risk of diabetes
Reduced risk of cancer, particularly colon cancer
Better weight management
I happen to love the taste of whole grain products but getting my family to eat them especially my kids can be a challenge so I was so excited to learn that General Mills has made it easier to add whole grain products to our diet. General Mills has over 50 cereals with whole grains listed as the first ingredient which means it has more whole grains than any other ingredient in the product and by choosing a cereal with a white check mark on the box you can easily increase the amount of whole grains in your diet.
I personally prefer Total and Cheerios because they have the least amount of sugar. My daughter Abby loves Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Honey Nut Cheerios…she calls them the “sticky” ones! Here is she eating Lucky Charms:
Abby loves cereal and yes she does love some sugary cereals so knowing whole grains is the first ingredient and the most plentiful is important. I will be seeking out the General Mills cereals with the white check when I shop in the supermarket, it’s an easy way to add more whole grains to your diet, just look for the white check and you are good to go!!!
Now for the giveaway!!! General Mills through MyBlogSpark has provided 5 boxes of cereal as a prize for one lucky reader!!!
Disclosure: The prize pack, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through
MyBlogSpark.The giveaway will end on Monday night and I will announce the winner on Tuesday. Enter using the Rafflecopter form below:
I loved the Marshmallows in Lucky Charms when I was younger (heck, I probably would still pick them out and eat them today if they were in my house lol!).
I had no idea lucky charms was made of mostly whole grains. Color my surprised but i figured it was one of the more unhealthy cereals! Now I can justify eating it
I learned that many of their cereals have whole grain. (Crap, now I can’t get on my hubs for eating all that sugar…) Love the new PB Cheerios – so delish!
I used to HATE whole grains. I couldn’t stand them. White bread was just more tasty. I am a hardcore carbivore myself. But, I’ve gotten to the point now where I enjoy whole grains more. I just can’t find a whole grain pasta that I like.
Something I learned from the General Mills site: that they encompass so many other brands that I thought were “independent” like Yoplait, Pillsbury, and Old El Paso!
My name is Toni and I am a mother, wife, runner, blogger and RN from Long Island, NY. I blog about health, fitness and my life. I am passionate about running and I am currently training to run the NYC Marathon on 11/4/12 which will be my first full marathon. Follow me on my journey as I try to live my life to the fullest.
my poor poor child
since Im an Attune Foods ambassador her cereal selection is made FOR her
I wish my child would eat attune foods cereal!!! I love it!!!
I did not know that whole grains had antioxidants in them! That’s great to know. And that Lucky Charms have whole grains
P.S. Your daughter is adorable!
I love that their mission is “Nourishing Lives”
I loved the Marshmallows in Lucky Charms when I was younger (heck, I probably would still pick them out and eat them today if they were in my house lol!).
The term “whole grain” means that the brand and germ are still part of teh product, no stripped away in processing. Now we know
I had no idea lucky charms was made of mostly whole grains. Color my surprised but i figured it was one of the more unhealthy cereals! Now I can justify eating it
i learned that whole grains have fiber in them!
“Whole Grain” means more natural in form with less processing providing a higher fiber content.
I learned they have have antioxidants in the cereal
littlegray88 at yahoo dot com
I think it’s interesting the anatomy of a whole grain. I knew they were better for you, but with the picture I could really see why/how
I learned that many of their cereals have whole grain. (Crap, now I can’t get on my hubs for eating all that sugar…) Love the new PB Cheerios – so delish!
I learned that GM support nutrition education and research efforts and funds programs that support youth nutrition and fitness! Awesome!
I used to HATE whole grains. I couldn’t stand them. White bread was just more tasty. I am a hardcore carbivore myself.
But, I’ve gotten to the point now where I enjoy whole grains more. I just can’t find a whole grain pasta that I like.
A whole grain food is made by using all three parts of the grain!
All Big G cereals have whole grain as first ingredient
people who eat more whole grain tend to have healthier body weights
I learned – “Whole grain” means it’s the complete grain, including the bran, the germ and the endosperm.
Wholes grains has more antioxidants
I learned that whole grains can lower cancer risk
GM cereals have whole grains as the first ingredient in the list. As far as packaged cereals go, they are among the best re the whole grains.
I learned that whole grains improve heart health
antioxidants? really? Didnt know that!!!
I learned whole grains have antioxidents!
I learned that every General Mills Big G cereal contains at least 8 grams of whole grain per serving!
Whole grain cereals use the entire grain seed of wheat, rye, rice, barley, corn, or oats without milling out the bran and germ
I didn’t know General Mills made Cascadian Farms!
I leaned that whole grains have fiber in them
thanks
flower_child_23(at)hotmail(dot)com
I learned how easy it is to make whole grain a part of every meal, including snacks!
Something I learned from the General Mills site: that they encompass so many other brands that I thought were “independent” like Yoplait, Pillsbury, and Old El Paso!
Antioxidants!? I’m impressed to learn about antioxidants being in these cereals. Big thumbs up from me!
Learned…whole grain” means that the brand and germ are still part of the product, no stripped away in processing