Whole Grain Products

Eating at least 3 servings of whole grains per day is recommended by nutrition experts. Everywhere you look at the grocery store, you see products labeled whole wheat and whole grain. You may be surprised to find out many of them are not true whole grain products. And no, the manufacturers of the products are not considered in the wrong. If a product does not state 100% whole grain or 100% whole wheat, they are not providing a false claim.

Whole grains are beneficial because they contain all the nutrients of the grain, including fiber. Whole grains are less processed than their enriched grain counterparts. 

How can you tell if a product is truly whole grain? Look for "whole" as the first ingredient listed on the label, or "100 percent whole grain" in the title of the product. 

Some examples of whole grain products are: Cheerios, Kellogg's Mini-Wheats, General Mills Wheat Chex, Oatmeal, triscuits, popcorn and breads, rice, and pastas labeled 100% whole grain.

Being a smart shopper is necessary when labels can be deceiving.