Boosting Nutrition with Wheat Germ

Next time you go to the grocery store, I urge you to buy Wheat Germ – a very powerful powder-like substance that is virtually tasteless and can be added unnoticed to almost any food. Many children are picky eaters and we often worry that they may not be getting all the nutrients required from their diet for optimal growth and development.

Please note that Wheat Germ is the smallest part of the whole grain and does contain gluten so be sure to check with your doctor before adding this to your baby’s diet.

The following are a list of nutrients that are contained in Wheat Germ:

• Folic acid (wheat germ is one of the best sources)

• Phosphorus (for healthy teeth and bones)

• Fibre (helps with constipation)

• Vitamin A, E, and many B vitamins

• Protein (higher than most meats)

• Iron

• Calcium

• Omega 3 Fatty Acids

And the list goes on and on and on….

The following are some ideas on how to add Wheat Germ to your child’s (and your) diet:

• Mix it into their cereal or fruit and vegetable purees

• Mix it into stews, casseroles, soups

• Stir it into yogurt

• Add it to smoothies (ex. banana, apple, and milk)

To bake with Wheat Germ, here are some simple guidelines to follow:

• Use wheat germ to substitute equal amounts of flour

• Replace up to one cup of flour with Wheat Germ and add a tbsp or two of water for every ¼ cup of germ since germ absorbs moisture

• Include it in breads, pancakes, waffles, cookies, etc.

Be careful with the amount of Wheat Germ that you give your kids since it’s very high in fibre. If your child has diarrhea, avoid it altogether!

Since Wheat Germ contains unsaturated fat, it can spoil, so it is best to keep it in an air tight container in the fridge – this way it can last up to 9 months.

As you can see, Wheat Germ is a Superfood – packed with nutrients and so easy to add to anyone’s diet!