Do you know about the benefits of whole grains for kids? If not, you’re in for a treat!
Whole grains are an important part of a healthy diet for children.
They provide essential nutrients that help kids grow and develop properly. In this blog post, we will discuss the benefits of whole grains for kids and give you some tips on how to incorporate them into your child’s diet.
Top 25 Healthy Whole Grain Foods for Kids
Whole grains are an important part of a healthy diet for kids. They’re packed with nutrients like fiber, protein, and vitamins, and they can help kids feel fuller longer. Plus, they’re a great source of energy for active kids.
Here’s a list of 25 healthy whole grain foods for kids, including whole wheat breads, pastas, cereals, and more.
Encourage your kids to try new whole grain foods by incorporating them into their favorite dishes or packing them in their lunchboxes.
- Whole Wheat Bread
- Whole Grain Pasta
- Brown Rice
- Oatmeal
- Popcorn
- Quinoa
- Buckwheat
- Barley
- Millet
- Farro
- Spelt
- Kamut
- Teff
- Amaranth
- Sorghum
- Freekeh
- Couscous
- Cracked Wheat
- Einkorn Wheat
- Emmer Wheat
- Farro
- Fonio
- Kamut
- Khorasan Wheat
- Maize
While this list doesn’t include all of the traditional western wheat, there are plenty of options to feed your children healthy wheat!
Educational Handout on Whole Wheat for Kids
The switch to whole grains is easier if families start with one small change at a time.
At Noodle Soup, we created a short checklist that gives parents simple ways to switch to whole grains that can add up to a big impact.
We made sure to add USDA’s latest MyPlate campaign “Start Simple”.
To purchase this 50 sheet tear-pad, visit us here.
This start simple plan makes it super easy for parents to think of ways to start introducing whole wheat into children’s diets.
The checklist includes the following pieces of advice:
- Replace one side of a sandwich with whole grain bread (kids usually start to prefer it over white!)
- At dinner, serve brown rice or whole grain pasta instead of white pasta or white rice
- Look for the word “Whole” as the first ingredient on the food label.
- Look for the following words on the ingredient label of breads, tortillas, pasta, and cereal: whole (wheat, rye, barley, corn, oats), oatmeal, quinoa, brown rice
Whole Grain Foods Millet for Kids
Whole grain foods are packed with nutrients that are essential for kids’ growing bodies. Millet is a whole grain that is often overlooked, but it’s actually a great source of nutrition for kids.
Here’s the top four reasons why you should consider adding millet to your child’s diet:
- Millet is a good source of fiber. Fiber helps keep kids regular and can also help prevent constipation.
- Millet is high in vitamins and minerals, including iron, magnesium, and phosphorus. These nutrients are important for energy production, bone health, and cell growth.
- Millet contains antioxidants that can help protect cells from damage. This means that millet may help reduce the risk of some chronic diseases later in life.
- Millet is a versatile grain that can be used in many different dishes. Try adding it to soups, stews, or casseroles, or use it as a healthy alternative to rice or pasta. Your kids are sure to love the delicious flavor of millet!
Whole Grains vs Refined Grains for Kids
There’s no denying that refined grains are more processed than their whole grain counterparts.
But does that make them worse for you?
Let’s take a closer look at the two types of grains to see which one is better for your kids.
Whole grains still have all of their parts intact, including the bran, germ, and endosperm. Refined grains have been milled, which removes the bran and germ. This also results in a loss of some nutrients.
Refined grains are often enriched with vitamins and minerals to replace some of what was lost during processing. However, they’re not as good as whole grains when it comes to providing fiber, antioxidants, and other important nutrients.
So what does that mean for your kids?
Well, whole grains are a better choice for several reasons. First, they’re more nutritious. Second, they tend to be more filling, so your kids will be less likely to overeat. And third, they’re associated with a lower risk of obesity and other chronic health problems.
So next time you’re at the grocery store, make sure to choose products made with whole grains instead of refined grains. Your kids will thank you for it!
Why is Whole Grains an Important Food in the Food Pyramid?
Whole grains are an important food in the food pyramid for many reasons.
They are a good source of fiber and other nutrients, they can help you feel full and satisfied after eating, and they can help you maintain a healthy weight.
Whole grains are also a good choice for people with diabetes or prediabetes because they have a lower glycemic index than refined grains.
This means that they cause your blood sugar to rise more slowly after eating them, which can help you control your blood sugar levels.
If you’re looking to add more whole grains to your diet, there are many delicious ways to do it.
You can try different kinds of breads, cereals, pastas, and even snacks made with whole grains.
With so many delicious options available, there’s no excuse not to give whole grains a try!
We hope this article has helped you understand why whole grains are an important part of a healthy diet.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about nutrition and healthy eating for moms and kids, bookmark Noodle Soup’s blog now!
