Susan's Top 5 Whole Grain And Starchy Carbohydrates Picks

I'm just going to be upfront and point out that oatmeal is not on this list. Oatmeal is a great source of a specific fiber known as beta-glucan, which has a beneficial impact on cholesterol and helps to promote blood sugar balance.

I recommend to everyone that they should eat oatmeal, but I simply don't like it. I wish I did.

My personal top picks include:

1) Beans and Legumes. Kidney, black, garbanzo, lentils, split peas. You name it, I like them! I'm a huge Chili and soup fan, which makes beans a no-brainer as part of my weekly shopping list. Keep in mind that if weight loss is your goal, 25 grams of fiber each day will help you to feel satiated longer. 1 cup of cooked beans contain anywhere from 10 - 15 grams of fiber, making it fairly simply to hit your daily fiber goal without supplementation.

2) 100% Whole Wheat Pasta. When I first began my journey to slim down I gave up pasta completely and quite honestly, that just sucked. I really love to have a bowl of pasta every now and then and once I hit my target weight I worked it back in to my diet in the form of organic, whole wheat pasta. Some people find whole wheat pasta too chewy, but honestly, I love it. The key for me in keeping pasta in my diet - I limit it to post workout meals and always use a measuring cup to ensure I'm not over indulging!

3) Ezekiel Bread. Spouted grain bread is the only type of bread you will find in my house, and there is no shortage of variety - sesame bread, hamburger buns, English muffins all have a place in my freezer. Ezekiel bread is made out of Sprouted 100% whole wheat, barley, millet, lentils, soybeans and spelt. When combined, a complete protein (there are 18 amino acids present in Ezekiel bread!) is formed. This stuff is seriously tasty - just toast before serving!

4) Quinoa. Quinoa is another whole grain that is high in protein and for a migraine sufferer like me, it has the added benefit of being a very rich source of magnesium, which helps to relax blood vessels (which also makes it good for cardiovascular health).

Click here for Green Lite Bites Quick Quinoa & Turkey Taco Stew Recipe

5) Potatoes. Potatoes are high in Vitamin C, a good source of vitamin B6, copper, potassium, manganese, and dietary fiber. The problem is that we typically laden them with fat, be it grease for frying (French fries and potato chips), or sour cream, cheese and bacon bits. The skin of the potato is high in fiber, so to garner the most nutritional benefits, don't peel your potatoes! My favorite way to enjoy potatoes is to cut them into smaller pieces, coat them in the slightest amount of olive oil and a little pepper and roat them in a pre-heated 450 degree oven for 20 - 30 minutes.

Train hard; stay strong.

Peace.

Susan