Reasons for fresh milled grain

I get a newsletter in my email box that comes from a company called the Urban Homemaker (I always loved the name of that company). As I was reading the most recent newsletter, I was reminded of the importance of milling my own grain.

One of the points in this particular letter mentions the cost of milling and bread. I wanted to share a few lines from the letter from Marilyn Moll ~

" Recently, I calculated the cost of making Marilyn’s Famous Whole Wheat Bread. My cost came in at just over a dollar even at the higher cost of grain. There is probably less than 25 cents worth of grain in each commercial loaf of bread. Today, a 1 1/2 pound loaf of whole grain costs at least $4.00."

The fact is, grain has really increased in price. I am sure your grocery bill reflects that. Any of the grain based products are so pricey. A large box of Wheat Thins is about $5. A descent loaf of bread is hard to find for less than $3.50. I noticed that english muffins were over $3 this week. That all really adds up. All of that motivates me to get my mill out and make my own bread.

As for the health benefits of fresh milled, we are the living proof that eating better, does keep the doctor away (no offense Permission to Mother). My girls were often sick and so was I. Since we have changed our diet, our sick visits to the doctor have almost completely stopped. In the past 3 years, I think we have been the healthiest we have ever been. Tally doesn't have to take medication for asthma anymore and Tristen's sinuses don't seem to be an issue like they were. Not to mention my cholesterol going down 30 points. Here is some more info from the newsletter I got.

"Whole grain bread offers significant nutritional benefits because it contains at least 26 naturally occurring vitamins and minerals along with good quality fiber and wheat germ oil missing from commercial breads. The grain refining process removes the bran, and the wheat germ oil and most of the nutritional value. White refined flour has four B-vitamins left in it which are not in the original proportions. That's It!

Consuming white flour product is like being robbed. Your body needs nutrient dense foods and refined flour baked goods are devoid of health enhancing nutrition.

Your body needs nutrient dense foods for good health. The term “nutrient dense” refers to foods that naturally contain a high spectrum of vitamins, and minerals. Spending our family’s precious grocery dollars on items that are largely manufactured and processed from inferior ingredients is associated with a number of common degenerative diseases, such as hemorrhoids, constipation, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and allergies which are associated with low fiber diets along with the consumption of refined and processed foods."

I just wanted to share a little from that newsletter. I hope you are encouraged to do the best you can for making food for your family. I am encouraged that I am setting the pace of eating for my kids for their life. Recently, I bought a loaf of bread from the store (for convenience) and neither of the girls would eat it. They said it just wasn't as good as my homemade bread. What a great compliment.


Update: Click here to see how we mill the wheat.

Click here to see the recipe post.