I am a huge fan of eating various forms of proteins, and obviously I love meat BUT I also don’t necessarily eat meat every single day, and I need to keep my protein up, so I am always trying to find ways to add it in to my diet.  I found a simple solution: wheatberry.

What is wheatberry?
It is a small circular whole grain, and it is the entire wheat kernel (without the hull), that you usually know as ground into wheat flour.  It is the germ, bran, and endosperm all in one!  It is usually tan in color and after being cooked they have kind of a chewiness to them, like quinoa.

Why is it so good for you?
Wheatberry has approximately 6grams of protein per 1/4cup serving, which is a lot of protein for a grain to contain, so it is great to add to your diet if you don’t get enough protein, or don’t have time to get meat proteins in your diet all the time.  Because it has the bran and germ part of the wheat, it is a complex carbohydrate, which means that it will make you feel full and take your body longer to digest because it has a bunch of fiber, around 6grams of fiber per serving as well.  With 150calories per serving and being full of fiber, protein, and packing about 8% of your recommended daily amount of Iron, it is a well rounded and healthy addition to your diet.  And as well all know, foods that are high in fiber and low in saturated fat can help to lower cholesterol levels.

How do I eat it?
You can find tons of recipes online, but just boiling it and adding some fresh veggies and some salt and pepper can make an awesome side dish option.  Sometimes I use it as an alternative for rice in a dish, seeing as it is healthier and better for you than even brown rice. I used to only make black beans and quinoa, but I switch it up and make it over wheatberry now too!  People love that it is a different grain, flavor (kind of nutty), and consistency to a side dish or salad.  So play around and try a bunch of different recipes, to see which ones you like the best….and remember you can also bake them into breads, and other baked goods to add some protein, a different consistency, and protein/fiber!

Wheatberry is a great addition to your diet whether you are trying to slim down, by cutting calories and saturated fats in your diet (i.e. cut out the high fat foods but add wheatberry) OR as an addition to your diet if you are trying to add calories and protein to bulk up.  Give it a try, and let me know what you think!  I know you will enjoy the flavor and the addition to your diet

Yours in Good Health
B