If you're watching your weight, counting calories really works — just ask Kate Hudson. Recently, I wrote about the handfuls of both veggies and fresh fruits you can eat and consume under 100 calories. Healthy whole grains are a little different. Learn what 100 calories look like from brown rice to quinoa when you read more Read more

Vegetarians and omnivores unite and make today a meat-free Monday by serving a reassuringly creamy risotto for dinner. Traditional risotto is made with arborio rice, but if you're looking to take it up a nutritional notch, prepare the dish using leftover barley, a chewy cereal grain high in fiber and antioxidants but low in fat. Parmesan cheese and wild mushrooms don't just add in meatiness and Read more

A little forward thinking today will go a long way. Chances are, after the big game, you'll be craving something light, fiber-rich, and low in fat to help you get over too many beers, chips, and buffalo wings. Before you head out to your Super Bowl festivities, bring together barley, broth, seasonings, and whatever vegetables — canned or fresh — you happen to have on hand. All the different Read more

With the addition of vegetables, barley, and lots of fragrant seasonings, brown rice, normally accustomed to being a staple side, suddenly finds itself in the main dish spotlight. What makes this brown rice a hearty vegetarian meal are the layers of flavor and variety of textures. While fresh thyme and spicy chipotles in adobo may not be the most obvious of food pairings, when tossed with the Read more

Looking for a simple way to bulk up the nutrients of dinner salads? Add a whole grain like barley. According to FitSugar, consuming barley could lead to lower cholesterol levels. Although she recommends using hulled barley, this recipe calls for pearled barley. After it's cooked, the hearty grain is tossed with cooling yogurt, crisp apples, and crunchy celery. The entire mixture is served on a Read more