Grain Substitutes: Healthy Alternatives to Rice for a Balanced Diet

Question
Hi, Kimberly,

With the new food pyramid, I am supposed to ear 7 ounces of grain each day. I eat rice mainly
but the whole rice is hard to eat and tasts bad.
Can i substitute the whole rice with  baked yam or potatoes?

Thanks.

Z Pan  

Answer
A grain can be any grain or starch food including rice (try brown rice instead), potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes, cereal, oatmeal, bread, crackers, popcorn, corn, beans, etc...  The idea is to get at least half of your grains or starches from whole grain foods.
Click here for more info on grains:
http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/grains.html
Kimberly A. Tessmer, RD LD
www.Nutrifocus.net