2: Grains

Grains are the very small seeds of cereal plants that belong to the grass family. There are many different grains that are suitable for humans to eat including wheat, rice, corn, oats, rye, barley and sorghum (but most sorghum in Australia is used for animal feed).

Grains are a very important part of a healthy diet. They are one of the core food groups that should be eaten every day. They are very high in the nutrient carbohydrate, which give us the energy we need to get through each day. They are also a very good source of fibre, vitamins and minerals.

Usually, grains have been processed in some way to make them easier for us to eat. Throughout history, humans have preferred to eat grains that have had the outside covering of the grain removed as this makes it faster to cook and easier to chew and digest.

The outer layers of a single grain are called the bran. The part of the grain that becomes a new plant is called the germ. The inside part of the grain is called the endosperm. In a wheat grain, the hard outer covering is the wheat bran, the new seed part of the grain is the wheat germ, and the inside endosperm usually becomes white flour.

When we talk about wholegrain bread, what we mean is bread that has been made from the whole grain, including the bran and germ. When whole grains are milled the flour is called wholemeal. White bread is usually made only from white flour which comes from the endosperm or inside part of the grain. Bran is very nutritious, and it is important to include whole grain cereal products in a healthy diet. It is an excellent source of fibre.

Grains form a significant part of the world food supply and they are a staple food in many countries of the world. Wheat on its own is a staple food for almost one-third of the entire world's population.

In Australia, grains are extremely popular, and are often eaten at each meal during the day. Many Australians start the day with either breakfast cereal or toasted bread; include bread as part of their lunch, perhaps in the form of a sandwich; and enjoy a variety of noodle, pasta and rice based meals in the evening. The 1995 National Nutrition Survey revealed that 95% of people aged 19 or more said that they ate grain based foods every single day.