Monday, 12 April 2010
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Hey Whole Wheat Haters!
It's very well-known that whole grain products are healthier for you because they contain fiber that will help keep you fuller for longer, improve your bowel movements, and keep your gut healthier. But I still know many people who just don't like the taste of whole wheat! They know it's better for them, but they just like the soft texture of refined grain products better. Even when I'm waiting in line at Subway, I still see the majority of people ordering white bread.
So are you a whole wheat phobe? Bread companies are coming out with a new product just for you. Several companies have created a white bread that is "made with whole grains". It has the appearance, texture, and taste of white bread, but some whole grains have been grinded really finely into the bread so that you can't notice them.
The only two products that I could find in my grocery store was Wonder+ Invisibles bread and Dempster's Smart White with Whole Wheat Grain bread. Remember that I am a Canadian chick! I tried the Wonder+ Invisibles and quite liked it. I always eat 100% whole wheat bread, so the soft texture of white bread was a complete change for me. Per 2 slices, Wonder+ Invisibles has an impressive 5 grams of fiber.
Are these products better than real whole wheat bread? NO. With "white with whole grain" breads, you get the benefits of added fiber and essential nutrients, but these breads are still made mostly out of refined wheat flour, not whole grains. When looking at ingredient lists, remember that the ingredients must be listed in order of most to least. Here is the ingredients list for Wonder+ Invisibles:
Ingredients: Enriched wheat flour, water, whole grain mix (whole grain whole wheat flour including the germ, whole grain triticale, whole grain khorasan wheat, whole grain brown rice, whole grain oat, whole grin spelt, whole grain rye, whole grain barley, ground golden flax, whole grain millet, whole grain sorghum, whole grain soy, whole grain quinoa, whole grain cornmeal), oat fibre, sugar/glucose-fructose, yeast, wheat gluten, defatted soya flour, soybean and/or canola oil, salt, diacetyl artaric acid esters of mono and diglycerides, calcium propionate, vegetable monoglycerides, sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate, potassium chloride, sorbic acid, calcium carbonate, calcium sulphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride.
The first ingredient is enriched wheat flour, not whole grain whole wheat flour. The best breads are made out of 100% whole grains and list whole grain whole wheat flour as the first ingredient! Whole grains contain the most natural nutrients and phytochemicals. Refined grains are stripped of these nutrients, but companies just add back in synthetic man-made nutrients.
However, I still believe that white bread made with whole grains like Wonder+ Invisibles and Dempster's Smart bread are great alternatives and choices for the whole wheat hater. At least you are getting extra fiber and can still enjoy your bread. Hey maybe one day you will change your mind and switch over to 100% whole wheat bread! Remember that eating healthier is about taking little steps. Even small changes can make a whole lot of difference.
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Comments (25)
Interesting. I don't really like whole wheat bread myself....I don't even eat that much bread! Thanks for the info.
That is something I have never understood. I've never liked basic white bread, its almost flavorless, too soft, and sticky when you're chewing it. But a lot of people do like it and some like miracle whip Velveeta "cheese" and Kellogg's Fruit Loops. . . Yuck!
Now if they can just find a way to make cheese whiz good for you
every time i see the words "bowel movement" it makes me think of work... i work with infants/toddlers... and we have to record every time we change them and we have to use that word... and that was the first time i ever heard of those words! SAD! but anyways... i hate whole wheat... what else do ya got? LOL can i get some benifiber or something of that sort? or i gotta eat wheat bread? well i like whole wheat pasta just not a lot of whole wheat stuff... i like wheat thins... too... and the multi grain cheerios... but that's about it... those are all processed huh? i'm so bad at this eating healthy shit... it's hard!
@CrAdLe2daGrAve - whole wheat pasta, multi-grain cheerios, and multi-grain wheat thins are great choices! bread is not the only choice in the grain group. Perhaps try the white bread I talked about above that has whole grains sneaked into them.
There are tons of other types of foods that have fiber in it too! Fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, etc.
I'm actually fond of whole wheat! Whole wheat pastas are very good too! Alot of major companies (like Kraft) are now making their pastas with whole wheat. The taste of wheat is different but it's good! I like it. When they dont have the bread I like at subway, I get wheat bread.
i think i'll start ordering sandwiches with it, i don't have much of a preference if its regular flat bread
@BaLob - I don't think restaurants carry this type of bread. But you can find it in the grocery store! :)
@i_Nutrition -
I think they might in NYC, I work close to times square.
@BaLob - oh very cool! let me know if you find it served in a restaurant!
I'm actually more of a seed loaf girl myself.
@i_Nutrition - i went to a fancy style deli but not really fancy. They had whole wheat bread, and whole wheat bagels. There's also this health/organic shop around here that serves up whole wheat and such.. even kale, I should look this up, but do you know what kale is?
@BaLob - Kale is an amazing leafy green vegetable. But are you talking about like a kale bread of some sort?
@i_Nutrition - No not bread, it looks baked and covered with some kind of reddish looking stuff, and it runs for about $6 for a few ounces of it... But I see it everytime I make a purchase there. Is it tasty?
I love whole grains! I think they have a lot more flavor and texture than white products (ugh white bread is so gross!). I remember when I was younger you had to go to the "health food" store to buy whole grain products. Now they're everywhere! I love it. Best whole wheat discovery ever: Aunt Jemima's whole wheat pancake mix. score!
@BaLob - haha I guess it's how you make it. Alone, it's just like any other kind of green leafy vegetable like spinach. Give it a try I guess! It's packed with tons of vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. A lot of people consider it one of the top 10 "superfoods" you can eat!
@i_Nutrition - I just had a little bit of it for lunch @ this super organic store, it was pretty good, everything was organic, and priced at a mere $7, I guess its a steal for times sq area.
^-^
Anyone ever chewed whole wheat? After a while you will get to the gummy gluten.
I wonder if the Romans really did eat Roman meal bread? Supposedly it is a superior combination than just pure wheat bread.
One study I read noted that civilizations that just eat wheat tend to be more violent, warlike people.
I prefer whole grain breads. The soft breads always ball up in my mouth and seem too doughy when chewed.
I love whole wheat bread more than white. I actually can't remember the last time I sat down and had a white bread sandwich.
Hey I am studying dietetics too! I recently went to a Nutrition and Holistic health conference. What do you think about the combination of holistic health and nutrition.@oro_nicolflow - Hi there! It's always nice to meet other dietetic students! Where abouts are you from? I have never heard of holistic health actually! I quickly looked up a definition on wikipedia and it sounds like something I definitely believe in. I believe in overall well-being. Health is so much more than just what you eat.
I wrote up a blog post about a "wellness wheel". I used one to help me make new years resolutions this year. Here's the post:
http://i-nutrition.xanga.com/719268823/reflecting-on-2009-and-improving-2010/
@tsh44 - awesome! whole wheat FTW!
My minor is actually Holistic Health so I am really interested in incorporating Nutrition with a holistic view of health. I want to encourage that food is one of the best preventative medicines as well as lifestyle choices. (:
I am studying in California.. Do you have any advice to lend a 2nd year dietetic student?Interesting.
Whole wheat is the bees knees.