Pearl barley

I've been reading some of the 12 week plan lit about using more fibre. It struck me that pearl barley could be useful to add to soups to give them more fibre and perhaps make a more satisfying lunch . Has anyone done that? How has it worked?

[Zest Healthy BMI]

Hi Derrygeel,

I've not done it yet, but I have recently bought a packet of Whole Grain Brown Barley with the aim of adding it into my soups that I'll be making in the near future, so I'm really looking forward to seeing how that turns out in terms of the texture and flavour. I'll let you know how it goes, when I try it.

I always add something fibrous to my soups - often lentils, and occasionally beans like cannellini or butter beans, as they are definitely more sustaining and nutritious and filling.

Lowcal

[TheHud]

Barley is apparently much better for you than most grains. It would depend on the type of diet you have it is rather high in calories, only 24% fibre, 157g is 194 cal. The best fibre is green veg, all veg really, bulk the soup with celery, carrots, turnip, some onion.

I blend part boiled veg (pick any apart from simple carbs such as potato even yam is high), add a stock cube and the water you par boiled the veg in, keeps all the nutients, bit of whatever spice takes your fancy, touch of skimmed milk for colour, spinkle with chopped rocket keep one portion for now and put the rest in the fridge. Soup done like this is still soup but really its a super smoothie just warm. Put some in a flask for a healthy high fibre drink during the day when tempted

PS its the part boil that keeps the fibre high

[Hidden]

I had pearlbarley salad at Tate modern the other week it was very nice. I love pearl barley in soups.

[TheHud]

Add fruit to your breakfast. Berries are high in fiber, so try adding fresh blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, or blackberries to your morning cereal or yoghurt

Keep fruit and vegetables at your fingertips. Wash and cut fruit and veggies and put them in your refrigerator for quick and healthy snacks. Choose recipes that feature these high-fiber ingredients, like veggie stir-fries or fruit salad.

Replace dessert with fruit. Eat a piece of fruit, such as a banana, apple, or pear, at the end of a meal instead of dessert. Top with cream or frozen yogurt for a delicious treat.

Eat whole fruits instead of drinking fruit juice. You’ll get more fiber and consume fewer calories. An 8 oz. glass of orange juice, for example, contains almost no fiber and about 110 calories, while one medium fresh orange contains about 3g of fiber and only 60 calories.

Eat the peel. Peeling can reduce the amount of fiber in fruits and vegetables, so eat the peel of fruits such as apples and pears.

Incorporate veggies into your cooking. Add pre-cut fresh or frozen vegetables to soups and sauces. For example, mix chopped frozen broccoli into prepared spaghetti sauce or toss fresh baby carrots into stews.

Bulk up soups and salads. Liven up a dull salad by adding nuts, seeds, kidney beans, peas, or black beans. Artichokes are also very high in fiber and can be added to salads or eaten as a snack. Beans, peas, lentils, and rice make tasty high-fiber additions to soups and stews.

Don’t leave out the legumes. Add kidney beans, peas, or lentils to soups or black beans to a green salad.

Make snacks count. Fresh and dried fruit, raw vegetables, and whole-grain crackers are all good ways to add fiber at snack time. A handful of nuts can also make a healthy, high-fiber snack

[Hidden]

I think I might have been a bit unclear here; I wasn't thinking of using grains as the only source of fibre - merely balancing sources as recommended in Week 1 of the NHS 12 week plan.

Lowcal, I've got pearl barley myself as well, and I was wondering how it tasted. Interesting about a pearl barley salad - now I really wonder how that might taste! I may not like the art, but I always like the food!

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to Hidden]

Hi Derrygeel,

I've not tried it yet, I bought some that was on special offer in my local health food shop, so am really looking forward to trying it.

I love food!

Lowcal

[Hidden in reply to Zest]

I think we all love food Lowcal - that's the problem

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to Hidden]

I know, I was thinking about my dinner when I was writing that. I got a bit distracted!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Pearl barley in soups is a great idea (and very tasty !) and its always good to get nutrition from lots of different sources

I used to make a salad with pearl barley, roasted butternut squash and goats cheese and it was really nice !

[Gonti 10 kg]

I love barley and cook it it in soup stock all the time -at least twice a week. It has great nutritional qualities, it has a lovely texture and slightly nutty taste and leaks some of its starch which helps thicken the soup and makes it look great. Best recipes non of which need blending: barley and miso soup (which has only those two ingredients) , chicken carcasse soup with barley cooked in it: barley, marigold stock and pumpkin soup.

[Ros1]

A couple of other ideas I enjoy, Quinoa seeds which can be eaten hot or cold in place of rice. Tonight I had some on top of salad leaves with mussels. Have you tried toasted pumpkin seed, I toast them for 5 minutes in a dry frying pan, leave to cool and have a small handful on top of a salad or as a snack.

[Hidden]

I'm looking forward to trying some of these ideas. Goats cheese. Mmmmm.

Cheese is my downfall. Not chocs. There is a farmers market in the town every Saturday.One of the women makes her own cheese: cows goats and sheep. I'm her best customer but I've had to reduce lately.