Cornmeal – Is corn a grain or a vegetable? Fresh corn is considered a vegetable, whereas dried corn (including popcorn) is considered a grain. Kernels can be ground into different sizes and texture to form cornmeal. If the cornmeal label states that it is degerminated, then it is not whole grain. Whole grain cornmeal contains fiber, potassium, vitamin B6, magnesium, and many phytonutrients.
Brown Rice – Brown rice is the parent of the popular white rice. Brown rice contains the bran which gives the rice texture and fiber. One downside to brown rice is that it takes longer to cook than white rice.
Wild Rice – Wild rice is actually the seed of a grass that was traditionally harvested by American Indians near the Great Lakes. Since wild rice is technically a seed it contains more protein than many grains. Wild rice has a strong flavor, so it is commonly consumed with other rice.
Sorghum – Sorghum is an ancient grain that was first harvested over 8000 years ago. Sorghum kernels can vary in color from white to deep reds or browns. According to the whole grains council “Worldwide, about 50% of sorghum goes to human consumption, but in the U.S., most of the crop is fed to animals, made into wallboard, or used for biodegradable packing materials.”
I always wondered about corn as vegetable vs grain. Thanks for all the good info in this series.