Food - Drink
The Reason You May Want To Avoid Instant Grits
By EMILY BOYETTE
Grits are a versatile Southern staple, but if you're worried about indulging in a huge bowl of carbs with little nutritional value, you should pay attention to what kind of grits you buy. Whole ground corn is chock-full of beneficial vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, but instant grits aren't made with the whole corn grain.
Hominy, which is similar to grits, is not considered a whole grain because the hull of the corn is removed before making it, but instant grits are an even worse offender. Instant grits start out as regular grits, which get stripped of their hull and germ through processing and then are ground very finely so that they cook quicker.
Next, these grits are precooked and dehydrated, resulting in a product with very little of whole grain corn's flavor, texture, and nutrition, as well as a mushy texture. For a more nutritious and tasty bowl of grits, try buying from bulk bins at the grocery store, and remember that the coarser the grits are ground, the better.