Amaranth refers to the tiny, light tan colored seeds of the amaranth plant. This nutritious, protein-rich pseudo-grain has a mild, nutty flavor and is gluten free. more

Barley is a flavorful, nutritious cereal grain covered in a tough, inedible hull that must be removed before the kernel can be consumed by humans. Hulled barley is the most nutritious and least proces... more

Although commonly thought of as a cereal, buckwheat is not a grain but a dried fruit. Contrary to its name, it is not related to wheat and is actually gluten free. Buckwheat is a good source of protei... more

Bulgur is a nutritious grain made from whole wheat, which has been parboiled, dried, and then coarsely ground. This Middle Eastern staple is pale-brown in color and has a slight nutty flavor, which so... more

Corn, also known as maize, is the only native American cereal grain. It is not a vegetable as some mistakenly believe. Ears of corn are typically steamed or boiled without their husks or roasted with ... more

Cornmeal is prepared by grinding dried corn kernels to various degrees of coarseness including fine, medium, and coarse. It is available as whole grain cornmeal, meaning it retains the highly nutritio... more

Couscous is a Middle Eastern and North African staple made from durum wheat. When cooked, it becomes like and fluffy. Couscous readily absorbs surrounding flavors and can be eaten hot or cold. Most co... more

Farro is a general term used to refer to three kinds of ancient wheat (emmer, spelt, and einkorn) although some say that "true farro" is only emmer, or Triticum dicoccum. It has a nutty flav... more

Grits typically refer to coarsely ground cornmeal traditionally made from dent corn or hominy. They are usually boiled or baked and develop a mushy texture when cooked. more

Hominy is dried white or yellow corn kernels, most often from flint or dent corn, from which the hull and germ have been removed. Hominy is often found canned or dried. Ground hominy is referred to as... more

Malt is produced by soaking barley or another cereal grain in water until it becomes germinated after which it is dried, roasted, and ground. It is available as powder, syrup, or extract. It is widely... more

Millet is a nutritious cereal grain covered in a tough, inedible hull that must be removed before the kernel can be consumed by humans. This easily digestible grain has a mild flavor and is gluten fre... more

Oat bran is an outer layer of the oat grain just under the inedible hull. It tastes nutty and contains more soluble fibers than any other grain, which results in slower digestion and an extended sensa... more

Oats are a whole grain cereal that is roasted and hulled to make oat groats, which are then sold as-is, rolled, or ground. Oats can be purchased as steel-cut oats, old-fashioned rolled oats, quick-coo... more

Polenta is the name given to a yellow, coarsely ground, Italian cornmeal as well as an Italian specialty dish made by mixing cornmeal with water. Polenta can now be found in various grades, such as fi... more

Although commonly thought of as a cereal, quinoa, in botanical terms, is actually the fruit of a plant related to chard and spinach. It is a complete protein containing all essential amino acids and c... more

Rye is a cereal grain related to barley and wheat. This highly nutritious cereal grain has a distinct flavor and can be cooked much like other cereal grains. It can also be sprouted and used like whea... more

Almonds are the seed of the fruit of the almond tree. Although almonds are actually related to cherries, peaches, and plums, they are considered a tree nut by most allergists. Almonds are often eaten ... more

Cashews are the kidney shaped nuts of the cashew tree. They are rich and flavorful with a soft, buttery texture. Cashews are used whole, in pieces, chopped, roasted, salted, or unsalted. Cashew nuts c... more

Hazelnuts are globe-shaped nuts encased in a smooth, hard, brown shell. The nut is surrounded by a thin, brown, bitter-tasting skin, which some people prefer to remove. Hazelnuts have a crunchy textur... more

Macadamia nuts are yellowish-white with a smooth appearance and crisp texture. Their flavor is buttery rich and slightly sweet. Macadamia nuts can be purchased whole, split, chopped, raw, roasted, sal... more

Pecans are native to North America. They are encased in a brown shell that is relatively easy to crack. Pecans are rather large in size and have a tender, yet meaty, texture. Their flavor is slightly ... more

Pine nuts are small, elongated, and ivory-colored. This expensive nut has a soft texture and sweet flavor. It is used as an ingredient in recipes or as a garnish. Due to their high oil content, pine n... more

Pistachios are small and green. They are encased in a thin, hard, tan-colored shell. The nut is surrounded by a thin, brown skin, which some people prefer to remove. Pistachios have a subtle, sweet fl... more

Walnuts are large in size and appear wrinkled. They are rich and flavorful with a crunchy, meaty texture. Walnuts are high in omega-3 fatty acids and will slowly turn rancid when exposed to air. Selec... more

Chia seeds are tiny, crunchy seeds that are black or white in color. They have a mild flavor and are a fantastic source of omega-3 fatty acids. When chia seeds absorb liquid, they swell up into gel-li... more

Flax seeds are small and brown or yellow in color. They have a nutty flavor and are a fantastic source of omega-3 fatty acids. more

Poppy seeds are the tiny edible seeds of the poppy flower. They are grayish-blue or ivory in color and have a subtle hazlenut flavor. Poppy seeds can be purchased whole or ground. more

Pumpkin seeds are the edible seeds found inside pumpkins. They can be purchased with or without hulls as well as raw, roasted, or salted. Hulled pumpkin seeds are green in color and are referred to as... more

Sesame seeds are the edible seeds of the sesame plant. The seeds are most typically ivory/white although can be found in brown, red, and black. They are eaten plain or roasted. Sesame seeds are used a... more

Sunflower seeds are the black and white striped seeds of the sunflower plant. Its shell, or hull, must be removed to access its edible kernel or heart. They can be purchased shelled or unshelled, raw ... more