From Felicia Arguello Jeffrey Group

Do you want to enjoy cupcakes and pancakes without feeling guilty?

Food trends in 2016 have been leaning towards a new trend, alternative grains, and replacing white flour.

Alternative grains are wholesome and part of a healthy lifestyle that’s constantly rising.

We’re going back to basics by grinding our grains to create homemade flour. The benefits of grinding grains at home are avoiding white flour which provides little nutrition and has more calories. By eating alternative grains, you avoid toxic substances such as chemical bleaching agents and synthetic vitamins which are added to packaged flour to increase shelf life.

There are different types of flour, although the term is usually used to refer to wheat, white or all-purpose flour.

These aren’t the only types of flours. There’s a variety of healthier flours made from antique grains, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes such as beans and chickpeas which are also alternatives.

Finding these flour alternatives can be challenging. Many companies are responding to the trend by manufacturing products that allows you to grind your grains at home. KitchenAid created an attachment, the grain mill for the stand mixer, which makes it a complete culinary center and grinds all kinds of dried beans and seeds.

There are numerous food intolerances and special dietary needs that require adjustment when selecting grains consumed (especially if you’re planning to make your own flour).

Gluten-free diet: Gluten is a protein found in dishes with wheat, rye and barley.

It’s common to hear pediatricians recommend a gluten-free diet for children with behavioral issues or children on the autism spectrum as it reduces hyperactivity and improves behavior. Individuals with celiac diseases are also eliminating gluten consumption.

Grains that can be used to create gluten-free recipes include: amaranth, buckwheat, corn, flax or linseed, millet, rice, quinoa, sorghum and others. Grinding beans at home is a great way to include more of these grains in their daily life or in your favorite cupcake!

Living with diabetes: The glycemic index, according to the American Diabetes Association, measures how a carbohydrate-containing food raises blood glucose. The organization recommends choosing foods with whole grains, which are high-fiber and are low in sugar.

Some favorable grains (due to their low glycemic index): quinoa, barley, oats, rye, bulgur, millet and sorghum.

For individuals looking to replace wheat flour for healthier choices – whether it’s for diabetes, a gluten-free diet or because they’re trying to limit carbohydrates and maintain a healthy weight. The best approach is to make your own alternative dishes at home.

Please see a creative idea for making homemade flour and dough and enjoy delicious pancakes. María Calle, KitchenAid nutritionist and consultant, shares a recipe below.

Oatmeal Pancakes
Protein pancakes with jam and chia seeds
Courtesy of KitchenAid

Ingredients:
ü ½ cup of oatmeal
ü ½ cup of gluten-free flour
ü 1 tablespoon of water
ü ¼ teaspoon of salt
ü ¾ cups of almond milk
ü 2 eggs
ü ½ teaspoon of baking powder
ü 1 cup of berries (strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries)
ü Dash of orange juice
ü ½ teaspoon of orange zest
ü 1 tablespoon of maple syrup
ü 2 tablespoons of chia seeds

Procedure:
· Grind the oats in the KitchenAid Grain Mill attachment and turn the mixer on level 10. The outcome should be very thin oats.
· Mix all ingredients (oatmeal, gluten-free flour, salt, baking powder) in a bowl
· Mix milk and eggs in hand blender
· Let the dough rest for 5 minutes
· Place some coconut oil to melt in a pan and begin making pancakes
· For the jam, add all the ingredients in a pot and boil the mixture. Once its boiling, cook for 10 minutes until you have a thick consistency