GRAIN POWER

In this diet-obsessed world where people are counting calories, carbs, fat, fiber, and anything else that goes into their bodies, it's easy to forget the basics of sound nutrition - a balanced meal. One group of foods that fits into a healthy diet, but is lately shunned by the weight-loss crowd, is grains. People limiting their carbohydrate intake usually steer away from grains because their total carb counts are quite high. But what many ignore is that the net carbs in grains are significantly lower because they provide a larger amount of fiber. And now, chefs are discovering grains beyond the usual wheat, oats, corn, rice, and rye. More exotic grains like teff, millet, amaranth, farro, and spelt are becoming readily available for foodservice. One grain that has been gaining favor with chefs is quinoa - a staple of the ancient Incas.