The Picky Bread Buyer

7 - Grain, Multigrain, Whole Wheat, Heart Healthy, Oat and Bran, Whole White, Made with BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.  Choosing a loaf of bread is like deciphering a different language these days - one that is made to trick and deceive.  You have to be smart when buying your bread and look past the attractive words on the label, straight to the ingredients list (and hope that it's not 75 items long).  Now, what?  There are a few things you need to keep your eyes open for - try following this list:

1. The first ingredient should be a WHOLE grain (whole wheat, whole rye, etc.).  This means that the majority of the product is made from this whole grain.
2. Be skeptical if an excessive amount of the ingredients are words you don't know.  These could be preservatives, color additives, synthetic compounds, or other chemicals used to make foods more 'tasty'.
3. Beware of excessive added amounts of sugar.  A slice of bread should really have no more than 3 g of added sugar.  Check out The DD's post on added sugar: Sneak Places Sugar Hides. 
4. Look for the Whole Grain Stamp.
5. Opt for bread made fresh daily at local bakeries and ask them what ingredients they use (any preservatives? whole grains? added sugars?)

Look for these breads at your local grocery store or bakery:

• Whole Foods 12-Grain Bread*
• Food for Life Breads*
• Rudi's Organic Bakery Breads*
• Brownberry 12-Grain Bread (contains preservatives)
• Aunt Millie's Fiber for Life 12 Whole Grains (contains preservatives)

*The top 3 listed breads are probably some of your best store bought options.  


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