Guilt-Free Starches

Healthy fast food. It’s the ultimate oxymoron, unless you peruse the supermarket aisles in search of pre-made options without a laundry list of multi-syllabic ingredients. The options weren’t plentiful until recent years, when consumers began swapping white rice for brown, and testing other grains, such as couscous and quinoa. We found two companies that offer healthy, quick options, each with pre-made grains that are sodium-, gluten- and cholesterol-free, with no saturated or trans fats.

Annie Chun’s has recently added two whole grain products: black pearl rice and multi-grain rice.The new express options come in microwavable bowls, 260 calories each. Each package comes with a label the layperson can understand too, and no artificial flavors, preservatives or MSG. The nutty taste takes some getting used to, but the adjustment is well worth it, given the innate amino acids and minerals, including iron, potassium and magnesium.

The Otis McAllister company also recently began offering pre-made whole grains, but frozen, in 20-ounce packages. The Village Harvest collection includes brown rice; a brown, red and wild rice mix; two flavored brown rice options; and the super grain quinoa. The technology used to create the rice supposedly prevents clumping. It can be heated or simply thawed.

Whatever your eating habits, we think a revamp on the good old fashioned grain, rice, is a great option.

Where: Annie Chun’s bowls are $2.99 each, available at major stores, including Whole Foods, Safeway, Publix and Fairway, among others. To learn more about products or buy items, visit the Annie Chun’s website. To learn more about Village Harvest product, visit the Village Harvest website.