No More Mr. White Bread

For any kid who grew up eating doughy, thick Wonder Bread for lunch, the encouragement by dietitians and nutritionists to switch to whole wheat bread can be a tough transition.

Bread, like any other part of our diet, is an acquired taste. Starting out early helps since children are much more adaptable to accepting foods than adults. This does not mean that children LIKE as many foods as adults - children are renowned picky eaters. But if you only expose them to healthy, whole grain foods they won't have the opportunity to develop a taste for white bread or other non-nutritious foods.

Adults, however, must learn to change their diet preferences because of knowledge. Understanding why whole wheat is superior to white bread can help you feel good about the compromise and encourage you to make it the standard for your children. Who knows - you may even like it!

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

The two biggest differences between white bread and whole wheat are the processing and the nutritional value.

Flour is made from wheat berries. The wheat berry is made up of the bran, the germ and the endosperm. All parts are filled with nutrients and are used in whole wheat flour.

White bread on the other hand, uses only the endosperm - the starchy inner layer. There is a total of 30 nutrients missing in white bread. The nutritional difference is immense and has measurable impact on our health.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF SWITCHING?

The fiber content of whole wheat bread has several health benefits.

Fiber helps the digestive system. It also creates a 'full' sensation and thus can help with weight control. Research has been conducted by Harvard and other organizations that shows men and women who eat high-fiber foods have less heart attacks and strokes than those who don't.

There is also an increased risk of diabetes in children who eat refined white flour - a risk that has been proven by the increase in cases of childhood diabetes.

WHAT DO I LOOK FOR?

Watch out for words like 'wheat flour' or 'enriched wheat flour' as they can be mostly made from white flour with just a small amount of whole wheat added in.

Look for 'whole wheat' or other whole grains, like oat. And don't be mislead by the name of the product. Names like wheat, whole bran, stoned wheat, 12 grain and others are still mostly white flour. The only way to know for sure is to read the label.

Independence Day Eve - 2006

It's July 3rd, and I'm in the midst of a 4 day personal celebration of our Independence. Things have been very busy, and I needed a little downtime. After a busy weekend with wonderfully enjoyable commitments to friends and family, this is the first day I've had pretty much to myself.

I came across the following article, which I wrote several years ago. It still rings true to me, so I'll republish it again now.

Thoughts of Independence, Freedom, and the Internet
Tonight, I sat on the deck as a brisk breeze carried past me the smell of fireworks and perhaps a hint of rain. The fireflies were dancing in the back yard to the sound of firecrackers and the low distant rumble of thunder. It is the eve of the 4th of July, Independence Day. My mind wanders to thoughts of independence, freedom, the internet.

Not to long ago, I had the opportunity to spend a few days in Washington, D.C. It was a thrill for me to visit our nation's capital. On one occasion, I managed to steal away from the conference I was attending, and work in a couple of hours sightseeing. I stood at the feet of the giant statue of Abraham Lincoln, gazed up in awe at the lofty height of the Washington Monument, touched the names carved in stone at the Vietnam Memorial, walked beside the reflecting pool and several other sights of interest and wonder. They all spoke to me of freedom, of independence that women and men before us have fought and died for. Our freedom, our independence, is a gift bought with the sacrifice and blood of not only our founding fathers, but millions that have come and gone since them. We owe them a debt that cannot be repaid.

The Internet has brought another kind of freedom to us, another independence. No longer are we captive to place, to distances, or to lack of knowledge. In the last few months, I've been able to communicate with relatives hundreds of miles away in an almost effortless fashion. I've met new friends from hundreds, or thousands of miles away. I've seen small business grow and prosper to an extent that would have seemed impossible a few short years ago. My own business has expanded far beyond the borders of it's physical location. It is now possible for the stay at home mother to operate a global business from the kitchen table, for the handicapped veteran to compete with the giant corporation. Each individual has the chance to reach the world, in pursuit of their dreams of financial independence, in a way that has never before been available to them.

I watch my 5 year old grandson "surf the net" on his WebTV. We look for cartoons to color, and pictures of the Blue Angels, which fascinate him. I wonder what things he will be doing in 30 years, things I've never imagined. The Year 2000 is upon us. Many predict great calamities and turmoil. I see it more as the dawn of a new age, the age of the individual freedom, the independence of the entrepreneur to attain new levels of success beyond their wildest dreams. It will be an age where we can share an idea, a product, a dream, with the world. I pray we each and every one will grasp this freedom, this independence, and use it to it's fullest extent.

I bid you a Happy Independence Day.