Happy Whole Grain Sampling Day!  Yes, it’s that time of year again (the first Wednesday in April) when we all take a moment to appreciate the chewy, nutty, heart-healthy deliciousness that is the whole grain.

Over the years, I’ve struggled with blood sugar issues (mostly low sugar crashes) and through trial and error, I’ve found my body functions at its best with balanced meals, meaning protein, fat, AND carbohydrates.  My carboholism is well documented, but even I can admit not all carbs are created equal.  That’s where whole grains, those slow-digesting, complex-carbohydrates, come into play.

Wondering what the heck a whole grain is?  Check out my post from last year’s Whole Grain Sampling Day:  “So, what’s a whole grain anyway?”

Incorporating whole grains into your diet is easy.  I like to cook a big batch of steel-cut oats on Sunday, and dish it out into single-serve portions for whole-grain grab-and-go breakfasts throughout the week.  Another quick option is tossing cooked grains on top of your lunch-time salad (quinoa is my salad-topping grain of choice).

MORE whole grain packed recipes to try:

Jambalaya from ferventfoodie.com

Freekeh with Brussels Sprouts & Pomegranate via freekehlicious.com

Amaze(meat)balls from ferventfoodie.com

Cornini Cookies from War Eagle Mill

Penne with Green Beans & Garlic, Anchovy, Herb Sauce from Jovial Foods

Carrot Muffins from Ultragrain

Southwestern Whole Grain Egg Sandwich from Roman Meal

Quinoa Patties with Roasted Red Pepper Aioli from Allie of Key Ingredients

Beans and Bulgur from ferventfoodie.com

HUMONGOUS WHOLE GRAINS GIVEAWAY

The Whole Grains Council and Oldways have generously offered to provide one reader with a goodie box chock full of whole grain products, including:

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• Among Friends Jam Bar Mix
• Attune Foods Buckwheat & Hemp Cereal
• Barbara’s Bakery Snackimals Cereal
• Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Honey Oat Granola
• Carl Brandt Mestemacher Rye & Multigrain Bread
• ConAgra Mills voucher for 1 bag of Ultragrain flour
• Dr. Kracker Engine 2 Crispbreads
• Freekehlicious Whole Grain Freekeh
• Goose Valley Natural Product Brown & Wild Rice Fusion
• HomeFree Treats gluten free cookies
• Jovial Foods Einkorn and Brown Rice Pastas
• Late July Multigrain Snack Chips
• Mary’s Gone Crackers gluten free pretzel sticks

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• Lotus Foods Rice Ramen
• Nabisco Classic Wheat Thins
• Nabisco Brown Rice Tricuits
• belVita Breakfast Biscuits
• Pamela’s Products Whole Grain Whenever Bars
• Popsalot Gourmet Cinnamon Popcorn
• Real McCoy’s Snax Rice Puffs
• Roman Meal Whole Grain Bread
• Rhythm Superfoods Chips
• Skeeter Snacks nut-free cookies
• Upfront Foods straight-up granola
• War Eagle Mill  Corn Flour

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 There are several ways to enter!  Check out the rafflecopter below!  The giveaway ends at midnight on April 4, 2014.  The winner will be notified via email.

Disclosure:  I received a selection of whole grain products to sample but was not compensated for this post.  All opinions are my own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway