The Benefits of Cereal

A cereal is a grass such as oats, barley and maize. It is good for us as it is a rich source of nutrients. 

  Oats are very nutritious. In fact, they can be a real boon to people trying to get a good diet on a low budget. It is available as whole grains with the husks removed. This is called oat groats which need cooking for 45 minutes. All forms of oats can be used to make porridge. They can be combined with groundnuts to make a roast or can even be added to a stew. Oatmeal is low in gluten and is mixed with wheat flour to add flavour and texture to bread, muffins and pancakes. 

  Barley can be a very important source of direct human food. It contains gluten, so barley flour can be made into bread. What we have in the market is whole barley or polished pearl barley. However, it is also possible to buy barley flakes or kernels. 

  The whole barley is more nutritious, providing protein, carbohydrates, fibre, folic acid, iron and calcium. It can be cooked on its own as a pleasant alternative to rice, pasta or potatoes, or added to stews. 

  Maize is the principal food plant of many countries. Rich in protein, it is used for human food, animal feed and as a source of raw materials for industry. 

  Fresh maize is often available as sweet corn and corn on the cob. We often see maize as cornflakes or popcorn. Cornmeal can be added to soups, pancakes and muffins. A lot of snack food is made from maize meal such as tortilla chips.