Do you get enough whole grains in your diet? Chances are that you don’t. Nutrition experts agree that people should eat at least 48 grams of whole grains daily, but many Americans have an intake that’s only one-third of this amount (or even less). If you’re looking to consume more whole grains, I have some thoroughly enjoyable cereals to suggest.
Cream of the West, a small company based in a rural area at the foothills of the Crazy Mountains in Montana, makes a number of excellent whole grain products that can get your day off to a hearty and healthy start. Since the company’s beginning in 1914, Cream of the West whole grain hot cereal has become a staple for generations of Montanans, who have started their mornings eating “cowboy cereal” for breakfast.
Roasted 7-Grain, Roasted Ranch Oats & Roasted Wheat.
Take their Roasted 7-Grain Cereal, for example. This rib-sticking hot cereal contains three kinds of wheat, extra wheat bran, oats, barley, rye, triticale, and spelt. Forget about mushy instant hot cereal; this has real texture from all those grains. As an added bonus, it cooks quickly, too — just 3 to 5 minutes. The Roasted Ranch Oats are a favorite of mine. These oats are thicker than most I’ve seen on store shelves, so you’ll find that each individual oat also has texture to it. But suppose you’re trying to introduce younger children or fussy eaters to whole grain cereal? Cream of the West has a great solution, in the form of their Roasted Wheat Cereal. This is also a cooked porridge. It has a little texture to it, as well as a very mild flavor, so it’s ideal for those who might be intimidated by anything with a chewier texture or stronger taste.
Roasted Ranch Oats, Roasted 7-Grain & Roasted Wheat, also available in cannisters.
If you live in the Western US, there is some retail distribution. If not, you can have these products shipped right to your door, from their own online shop or a selection of products from Amazon. They offer a selection of cleverly named gift packs that make good gifts. Try “Come And Get It,” which includes hearty 7-Grain Buttermilk Flapjack Mix, Montana Crunch, Seasoned Breading and a dinner bell! Or “Three Cowboys And A Rope” with Roasted Ranch Oats, Roasted Wheat and Roasted 7-Grain — all roped up with an enamel spoon.
Three Cowboys And A Rope: Roasted Ranch Oats, Roasted Wheat & Roasted 7-Grain, all roped up with an enamel spoon. Come And Get It: hearty 7-Grain Buttermilk Flapjack Mix, Montana Crunch, Seasoned Breading Mix, packaged in a wooden crate, complete with dinner bell!
I haven’t tried their Montana Crunch Granola or their 7-Grain Buttermilk Pancake Mix, but I’ll bet both are just as tasty as their cereals. Incidentally, don’t feel that you have to restrict the use of these products just to the breakfast table. They make a satisfying lunch or supper, too. Saddle up, cowboy, and grab your spoon!
