Instant varieties are now available in most supermarkets. Barley is great as a side dish, a hot or cold cereal, or as a main entree when combined with vegetables or lentils. Wheat berry is a crunchy grain that can be served either hot as a side dish, or cold as a cereal. It is delightful with low-fat plain yogurt, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Quinoa is used like rice to make pilaf or other seasoned side dishes.
Kasha is another grain that can serve as a rice replacement.
To prepare grains, first rinse them well with cool water. Cover and cook until all liquid is absorbed. Grains such as amaranth, bulgur, and millet take about 25 minutes to cook. Barley usually takes more than an hour to cook while kamut, spelt, and wheat berries will take about 2 hours to cook. Pressure cookers can reduce the cooking time significantly for people on a tight time schedule.