Shake up your grain game and do good for the planet.
Ah, the humble yet mighty grain. We all love them and they are an essential part of human diets around the world, as grains bring texture, flavor, and nutrition to the table. And while it’s great to have a go-to grain routine, it’s also important to shake things up and experience the assortment of magical grains waiting to transform your world. We at Moonshot believe that climate-friendly grains deserve a little more love, and mixing up your grain game provides an easy way to enhance dinner and help create a more diverse ecosystem.
Did you know rice, corn, and wheat contribute nearly 60 percent of calories obtained by humans from plants? While there’s nothing wrong with eating the big three, expanding what we eat has a positive climate impact. It helps support crop rotations for farmers and increase biodiversity for healthier ecosystems. As part of our ongoing series dedicated to climate-friendly cuisine, we’ve created a list of groovy grains for you to try out. Eating these grains helps farmers move away from monocultures to grow more diverse crops, which means your next stack of hotcakes or garden salad makes a positive impact far beyond the table.
Buckwheat
Nutritious, versatile, and oh so delicious, buckwheat is a must for those who want a gluten-free grain that does it all. Along with a toasty, earthy flavor, buckwheat has a soft, chewy texture and double the protein of oatmeal. Buckwheat flour is also great for hearty pancakes and is what makes traditional soba noodles so delicious. Try cooking buckwheat and eating it with your salad, morning yogurt, or just like cereal! And because it protects soil from erosion, you can rest easy knowing you’ve helped the planet while you enjoy this exceptional grain. If you need some ideas for buckwheat, make sure to check out our range of incredible climate-friendly recipes.
Amaranth
This grain is a complete protein that’s drought tolerant and ridiculously good for you. If you want a grain that’s sweet, nutty, and rich in fiber, amaranth is for you. Amaranth is also a complete protein that can be added to salads, made into a hot cereal, or added to soups. It can also be toasted in a hot, dry skillet to add a bit of crunch to any dish. Check out our collection of amaranth recipes to see how easy it is to add this super grain to your daily routine.
Sorghum
If you think sorghum is just a sweetener, you’ll be grain-ly mistaken. With high antioxidant levels, this drought tolerant grain has a range of dynamic capabilities for climate-friendly eating. Ground as a flour, sorghum can be used like an all-purpose wheat flour for gluten-free treats like cookies, breads, and pancakes. Cooked as a whole-grain, sorghum makes an excellent addition to salads or on its own as a hearty side dish.
Rye
Looking for another do-it-all grain? Rye is super healthy, protein rich, and contains healthy amounts of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. This ancient grain has been grown by farmers as a way to maintain healthy soil, but sadly they often can’t sell it because of low consumer demand. If you’ve never tried rye, there’s no better time than now, as this versatile grain is a must for plant-based eating. Whole rye berries are excellent tossed in salads or used as a side, while rye flour brings nuance and nutrition to your favorite baking endeavors (hello, rye bread!).
One Last Thought
Making small changes to your grain consumption can significantly impact the effects of climate change. Have fun with your recipes and see where these new grains take your eating. With the added fiber, protein, and minerals, you’ll get more from your grains and make less of an environmental impact. And that’s something we can all get behind!
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