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.
Grains come in a multitude of flavors and colors, so experiment to see if you can broaden your food choices. Ask a registered dietitian for recipes to help you get started. Grains are a major source of fiber in our diet. The USDA Food Guide Pyramid recommends 6 to 11 servings of grains each day to get the appropriate nutrients and fiber that the body needs. So, eat your grains for the health of it.