Vitamins, minerals, fiber and other things in whole grain foods contribute to the health benefits of whole grains. Eating plenty of fiber-containing foods, such as whole grains (and also many fruits and vegetables), promotes proper bowel function, helps to fill you up, and more.

When choosing grains, whole grains are the best choice since they'll provide more nutrients and fiber than processed grains, such as white bread and white rice.

SAMPLE INGREDIENT LIST FOR A WHOLE GRAIN FOOD INGREDIENTS:
Whole wheat flour, water, wheat gluten, soybean and/ or canola oil, honey, yeast, salt.

AIM TO GET AT LEAST HALF OF YOUR GRAINS FROM WHOLE GRAINS.
TRY SOME OF THESE WHOLE GRAIN FOODS: whole wheat bread, whole grain ready-to-eat cereal, low-fat whole wheat crackers, oatmeal, whole wheat pasta, whole barley in soup, tabbouleh salad.

HOW TO INCREASE YOUR INTAKE OF WHOLE GRAIN FOODS
Choose foods that name one of the following ingredients first on the label's ingredient list.
Brown rice Bulgur (or cracked wheat) Graham flour Whole wheat Whole grain corn Whole oats/oatmeal Whole rye Buckwheat Popcorn Pearl barley Quinoa Millet

(Note: To be a whole grain food, the label must list a whole grain, such as whole wheat flour, in the ingredient list.)