For any kid who grew up eating doughy, thick Wonder Bread forlunch, the encouragement by dietitians and nutritionists toswitch to whole wheat bread can be a tough transition.
Bread, like any other part of our diet, is an acquired taste.Starting out early helps since children are much more adaptableto accepting foods than adults. This does not mean that childrenLIKE as many foods as adults – children are renowned pickyeaters. But if you only expose them to healthy, whole grain foodsthey won’t have the opportunity to develop a taste for whitebread or other non-nutritious foods.
Adults, however, must learn to change their diet preferencesbecause of knowledge. Understanding why whole wheat is superiorto white bread can help you feel good about the compromise andencourage you to make it the standard for your children. Whoknows – you may even like it!
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
The two biggest differences between white bread and whole wheatare the processing and the nutritional value.
Flour is made from wheat berries. The wheat berry is made up ofthe bran, the germ and the endosperm. All parts are filled withnutrients and are used in whole wheat flour.
White bread on the other hand, uses only the endosperm – thestarchy inner layer. There is a total of 30 nutrients missing inwhite bread. The nutritional difference is immense and hasmeasurable impact on our health.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF SWITCHING?
The fiber content of whole wheat bread has several healthbenefits.
Fiber helps the digestive system. It also creates a ‘full’sensation and thus can help with weight control. Research hasbeen conducted by Harvard and other organizations that shows menand women who eat high-fiber foods have less heart attacks andstrokes than those who don’t.
There is also an increased risk of diabetes in children who eatrefined white flour – a risk that has been proven by the increasein cases of childhood diabetes.
WHAT DO I LOOK FOR?
Watch out for words like ‘wheat flour’ or ‘enriched wheat flour’as they can be mostly made from white flour with just a smallamount of whole wheat added in.
Look for ‘whole wheat’ or other whole grains, like oat. And don’tbe mislead by the name of the product. Names like wheat, wholebran, stoned wheat, 12 grain and others are still mostly whiteflour. The only way to know for sure is to read the label. The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practit.
