Since rice feeds half the population of the world — all of Asia — special mention must be made of this important staple. Brown rice is more nutritious than polished or semi-polished white rice, of course, but many varieties of rice are grown and eaten in Asia. Many People and organizations consider rice to be the world’s most important food. It is second only to wheat as the most widely cultivated cereal in the world.
In much of Asia, rice is so central to the culture that the word is almost synonymous with food. In Chinese, the “daily bread” line in the Lord’s Prayer is translated as “give us this day our daily rice,” and a Japanese proverb states that “A meal without rice is no meal.” Grown in Asia for at least 10,000 years, rice has influenced the cultures and lives of billions of people. Throughout this vast region, rice still dominates customs, beliefs, rituals, and celebrations. Rice is eaten at least three times a day, but it is combined with vegetables, fruit, nuts, tofu, fish and maybe some meat.
Health and longevity
Like rice, pasta is a food that has been eaten for thousands of years. It is a central ingredient in the Mediterranean meal pattern, that is linked to health and longevity. The traditional Mediterranean diet delivers as much as 40% of total daily calories from fat – olive oil — yet the associated incidence of cardiovascular diseases is significantly decreased. Eating olive oil every day and fish a few times a week benefits the Mediterranean people by increasing important phytochemicals and fatty acids in their diet. They also eat grains (such as pasta), fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and drink red wine to round out their healthy eating.
Although pasta can be made of whole wheat, it is usually made of refined durum or semolina wheat. Pasta is made from wheat with a very high content of protein that is digested in the body like whole grain. So, don’t let anyone tell you that pasta is not healthy!
Investigate, cook and love
A world of grains and cereals exists out there to investigate, cook and love. You can enjoy old favorites, but don’t get stuck in a rut. If sandwiches are a daily mainstay of yours, try new whole grain breads, but remember that one serving is just one slice. If your favorite burger joint serves only low-fiber white buns, request 100% whole wheat or take your own (which I have been known to do, to my children’s chagrin)!
Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 suggests that most adults eat at least three servings (1 ounce each) of whole grain products and cereals a day. A 1-ounce serving equals one slice of bread, 1 cup of dry cereal, or ½ cup of cooked cereal or pasta. Refer to www.mypyramid.gov for more information about serving and portion sizes.
Remember: A rule of thumb is that no portion of any food should be bigger than a deck of cards or the size of your fist.
As a helpful resource, I have lots of articles on healthy ingredients and recipes that you can implement into your daily life.
If you’d like to dig deeper into my journey of discovering God’s plan for health and wellness, check out my book, Made For Paradise: God’s Original Plan for Healthy Eating, Physical Activity, and Rest.
