TOTAL NUTRITION

Five Whole Grain Dishes That Taste Great

by Mindy Hermann, R.D.

(NAPSI)-Looking to broaden your whole grain recipe repertoire? Here are a few suggestions from the team in the Betty Crocker Kitchens, which recently published a relevant new cookbook titled "Betty Crocker Whole Grains: Easy Everyday Recipes."

1. Bruschetta--Top lightly toasted whole wheat pita with fat-free hummus, chopped basil and tomatoes, chopped garlic, and lower-fat shredded cheese, and bake at 350° or microwave until hot and cheese is melted.

2. Gorp (trail mix)--Mix together whole grain cereal, pretzels, fat-free caramel corn, roasted soybeans, dried cranberries and chocolate chips.

3. Stew--Add pearled barley to your favorite stew recipe.

4. Tacos--Fill whole wheat or corn tortillas with grilled fish, black beans, diced tomato, shredded lower-fat cheese and chopped cilantro.

5. French toast--Add crunch with Total cereal; see recipe below.

Crunchy French Toast

21/2 cups Whole Grain Total cereal or Total Honey Clusters cereal

2 eggs or 1/2 cup fat-free egg product

3/4 cup orange juice

1/4 teaspoon salt

10 slices (1-inch thick) whole grain or regular French bread

1. Place cereal in food-storage plastic bag; seal bag and crush with rolling pin or meat mallet. Place crushed cereal in shallow bowl; set aside. In medium bowl, beat eggs, orange juice and salt with wire whisk until well blended.

2. Spray griddle or 12-inch skillet with cooking spray; heat to 350°F or over medium heat. Dip each slice of bread into egg mixture, turning to coat both sides; coat with cereal. Place on griddle; cook 4 to 6 minutes, turning once, until golden brown on both sides.

5 servings (2 slices each)

1 Serving: Calories 410 (Calories from Fat 70); Total Fat 7g (Saturated Fat 1.5g); Cholesterol 85mg; Sodium 870mg; Potassium 440mg; Total Carbohydrate 72g (Dietary Fiber 9g); Protein 15g

Mindy Hermann, M.B.A., R.D., is a nutrition writer for women's, health and fitness magazines. She is the co-author of "Change One" and the American Medical Association's "Family Health Cookbook."

Mindy Hermann

Note to Editors: This is Series VII-8 of 26.