I thought I needed to post something about healthy eating, since I have been posting a bunch of unhealthy recipes. Yes, last week I fixed a lot of unhealthy food but overall I have been trying to cook healthier. I decided it would be a good time to combine my Kitchen Tip with GratiTuesday.
One of the things that I have struggled with in trying to cook healthier is baking with whole wheat. I have had trouble incorporating it into things. I was not happy with the results and neither was my family. I could get by with using 1/4 to 1/2 whole wheat in things, but more than that I would get a lot of complaints. But I knew I needed to add more whole wheat into our diet, after all the goal was, and is, to help improve my daughter’s health problems. (If you are new to my blog my 8 year old daughter has had problems with severe asthma over the last year)
I have done a lot of research on the different types of whole wheat, like regular whole wheat versus stone ground versus home ground. In researching the different types of whole wheat flour I realized that the healthiest and most nutrient packed was the home ground whole wheat. Not only was is healthier but most people claimed it gave you much better results in your products by using fresh ground whole wheat.
My husband and I decided that we thought it was worth buying a home wheat grinder. I am so grateful we were able to purchase one of these.
I love it. I have been amazed at the difference it makes in baking. Home ground whole wheat is so much better. I can now use 100% whole wheat in many recipes without getting complaints. If I do not use 100% whole wheat, I can use at least part whole wheat without anyone noticing. I have never been able to do this before. I love my wheat grinder. Yes, it takes an extra step in baking things but I think it is worth it.
I was able to find a local or semi local, it is at least in state, source for wheat berries. This will make it much cheaper than ordering them. Shipping can get very expensive on wheat.
I know this is not a purchase most people can or want to make. A nutrimill is expensive but for us at this time we feel it is worth it. If you would have asked me a year ago if I would ever be one of those people who grind their own wheat, I would have laughed. I never had any thoughts of ever doing that. But things have changed and now I have become one of those people that grinds their own wheat.
Our main goal in eating healthier has been my daughter. The changes we have made in our diet like cutting out processed foods and eating whole wheat, along with cutting out almost all chemical cleaning and bath products, has worked. My daughter is much healthier this winter. We have been able to cut back on her medicines and she is doing very well. I am so grateful that her health has improved and the small sacrifices we have had to make have been worth it.
Do you find that fresh ground makes baked goods lighter? When I’ve used whole wheat (from grocery store) baked goods seem to be heavy. Thanks for this post. I have a bag of wheat berries in the freezer I’ve been waiting to use.
Jen, whole wheat will always be heavier then white flour. But I have found the home ground to be less heavy than the store bought whole wheat. Some of that may depend on how you grind it at home though. My grinder has a setting where you can adjust the courseness of the wheat. So, I can make it very fine for things like cookies. I also use the soft white wheat (whole wheat pastry) for any non yeast items I cook. I hope that helps.
That’s awesome. I use our vita-mixes dry blender container to grind my wheat and it works great!!!
I love my mill! It has really changed the way we eat at our house. I still buy bread during the hectic times, but it just doesn’t taste the same as the yummy whole wheat!
Toni
I am thankful for my wheat grinder too. Mine is a K-Tech. I have had it for about five years and it still works great. The best wheat that I have found for making bread is Prairie Gold produced by Wheat Montana. I am always happy with the way it works in my recipes.
Oh, I’m so excited for you! I’m glad you are loving your nutrimill! They are WONDERFUL!!!!!
That’s great! I have a mammoth of a wheat grinder I got from my mother in law. Its very effective and if you adjust the bolt in the back can make it more coarse or fine. Those little ones are tempting, and if my 40 year old mammoth kicks the bucket I will have to get one. Whole wheat bread is a fave of mine. Oh, and it also makes great homemade tortillas. Yum!
This is a great idea. I’ve tried to use more whole grain products in my baking as well. The biggest challenge so far has been buttermilk biscuits. We, too, have seen improvements in our son’s health since we switched from toxic cleansers to homemade ones and to a more organic, unprocessed diet.
I’ve been grinding my own wheat for about a year and a half and we love it! This year I purchased a tortilla press, and we’re enjoying homemade tortillas occasionally, too. I always have sandwich rolls and muffins on hand. My husband’s favorite muffins are made with spelt.
Have fun experimenting!
Where are you buying your wheat berries? Do you buy white whole wheat or something else. Can you buy berries at Earthfare? I’m trying out a friend’s grinder and I’d like to know more. Thanks
Jackie, I have ordered my wheat berries, but I recently found a food co-op in my state that sells them. I was very glad to find a local source b/c it is much cheaper.I prefer the white wheat. I have used some red wheat, but usually mix it with the white.
I don’t know ladies…just not on board for grinding my own flour. I am going to try a homemade laundry soap this next week (Dugger family laundry soap recipe.) If there are noticable health benefits for your daughter then great but sheesh my hat is off to you all.:)