What is a grain?

Food Origins

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by Kate Simmons >> more about the author

Wheat, corn, oats, barley, sorghum, millet, rye and rice. These are all examples of grains! Grains are an important part of our nutrition. In fact, without them, we wouldn’t have bread, crackers, pasta or tortillas!

Grains are plants that are members of the grass family. Their seeds can be eaten or used to create other foods. Grains are great sources of important nutrients, vitamins and minerals. For example, vitamins B and E, iron and fiber can all be found in grains.

Whole grains include the entire seed of the plant. Some foods are made from refined grains. When grains are refined, parts of the seed, such as the outer layer, are removed. In the process, the grains lose some of the important nutrients that are so healthy! As you may have guessed, these refined grains are not as good for us as whole grains.

Sometimes whole grains, such as brown rice, are eaten as is. Whole grains can also be cracked, ground or split, and even milled into flour, which can then be used in the baking of foods such as bread.