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Cereals are defined as seeds or edible grains that usually belong to the members of the grass family grown once in a year or annually.  Like all seeds, cereals are very high in nutrition because they contain all the nutrients that the embryo plant needs to grow. Unrefined cereals are a very rich source of vitamins, carbohydrates, iron and fibre. Cereals can be consumed in several forms. Some cereals such as oats, wheat, barley, contain the protein gluten which is essential for bread making. The flour is used for making cakes, muffins and cookies too. Besides being ground into flour cereals can also be used in the form of whole grains and cooked until soft. Very often whole grain is broken in the form of coarse flour and used as porridge or for soup thickening.
Breakfast Cereals: Cereals are also available in a form that can be had at breakfast. A breakfast cereal is a food product designed to serve as readymade breakfast food. They are not only wholesome and nutritious but cheap to buy, easily available in various flavours and combinations. In China fried rice and rice porridge is a popular breakfast combination. In Russia porridge made of buckwheat is popular and considered healthy food to start the day with.
Types of Cereals: Corn or maize, wheat, barley, oats, rye, rice, millets etc. belong to the family of cereals. Corn is a principle plant grown in many parts of the world and used for human consumption, fodder and for industrial use. Corn is often seen in the form of cornflakes and serves as a popular breakfast cereal that can be had with milk. Barley has the ability to grow in a wider variety of climatic conditions than any other cereal. Though its use has declined over the years but is still available in the form of barley flakes or added to muesli that can be had for breakfast. Millet plant withstands harsh weather conditions and is cultivated in many parts of Asia and Africa. In many arid countries millet serves as a staple diet and a good alternative to rice. Millet seeds have the property to absorb water easily. So millet flakes can be made into porridge or added to muesli. Millet flour is sometimes used to make pastas.
Oats and Rice cereal: Oats is an extremely nutritious cereal and grown in many parts of the world that include America, Canada, Australia, China and Russia. Oats are also used as animal feed because of its high nutritive content. It is available in the form of whole grain, with the husk removed called groats, and as various grades of oatmeal and oat flakes. Oats can be used to make porridge or even added to stews. Oatmeal is low in gluten and therefore mixed with wheat flour to add flavour and texture to pancakes, muffins, bread and other such confectionary items. Rice is one of the most important crops and is grown throughout the world where climate is humid and sub-tropical. Rice is a good source of carbohydrates but lacks protein content. The rice grains come in three basic sizes namely short, medium and long. Rice cereal can be ground into flour but cannot be used to make breads because of its low gluten content. Rice flour can used to make cakes, biscuits and pancakes. Rice flakes, white and brown, can be added to muesli or made into porridge.
Wheat and Rye cereal: Wheat is one of the most popular cereals, mainly because wheat plant can be grown in a wide range of climatic conditions. From the point of view of nutrition, wheat cereal provides carbohydrates, iron, calcium and fibre. Wheat flour has high gluten content and is used for making bread, cakes, biscuits, breakfast cereal and pasta. Cracked or kibbled wheat grains when soaked and steamed can be eaten as breakfast to start a day. Wheat flakes are used for porridge, muesli. Wheat germ is an excellent source of nutrients especially vitamin E. Rye cereal is a relatively unfavourable cereal but is grown mainly because it is a hardy plant and grows in temperate, at high altitudes and tolerates poor quality soils. It is the only cereal apart from wheat and barley that has enough gluten to make a yeasted loaf. Rye is added to stews and rye flakes are available to be used in muesli.
Baby Cereals: Cereals have also found their way into baby foods contributing in a big way towards a baby`s healthy growth. Cereal based food for babies is supplemented with iron, vitamins and minerals available aplenty in the markets these days. For an infant who has to start semi solid diet rice, oatmeal and barley cereals are recommended. A baby who is six months old can have food of cereals mixed with banana. For 8 or 9 month old baby wheat and rice cereals are easy to digest and good for consumption. The cereals are available in a variety of flavours that add taste to the food. Therefore, it is common to find wheat cereal with banana and grape, rice cereal with pear and orange, multigrain cereal with mango and pineapple, oatmeal cereal with apple and cinnamon. A delicious blend of organic whole grain brown rice, organic whole oats and organic barley is the one fully supplemented with iron and vitamins and is easy to digest. Cereal based food is a very good option for healthy development of a baby.
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