HOW CAN I TELL IF FOOD IS WHOLE-GRAIN?

Before they are milled or refined, all grains are whole. That is, they contain all the original components of grains: an inner layer of germ, a middle layer called the endosperm and the outer bran layer. When grains are milled, the germ and bran are often removed, and the starchy endosperm is left. That's what you eat when you enjoy white rice or foods made with white flour. Many popular foods today contain whole grains, including whole-grain breakfast cereals, whole-wheat and whole-grain breads and rolls and whole-grain waffles. To make certain you're eating a food that contains a significant amount of whole grains, check the ingredient list on the label. The predominant ingredient should be labelled "whole grain," such as whole-grain oats, whole-grain wheat, whole-grain rice, whole-grain corn or whole-grain barley, or "whole-wheat," such as whole-wheat flour. The labels of some packaged foods also announce that the product is made from whole grains.