Whole foods such as whole grains are a healthier choice for carbohydrates than foods made with processed white flour because foods made with whole grain include the entire grain, which contains three parts:

1. Bran: The bran part of a grain provides fiber and B vitamins, which give whole grain products their texture.
2. Germ: The germ part of a grain provides minerals, protein, vitamins B and E, and healthy oils, which contribute most of the flavor to whole grain foods.
3. Endosperm: The endosperm is the outer layer of the grain, which provides some protein but consists mostly of starch. White bread and pasta are made from this layer only, so you miss out on much of the fiber and nutrients in the grain.

When you shop for whole grain foods, look for word "whole" before the word "grain" or "wheat." Choose foods with nutrition labels that read "whole wheat," or "whole bran," rather than those that read "100% wheat" or "stone ground wheat" or "multi-grain." And don't be fooled by color. Brown bread may not be made from whole grain. Some types of wheat breads made from processed grain include molasses to make them look "wheatier." So be sure the label says whole wheat.
Some easy ways to add whole wheat to your diet include making your favorite pasta recipes with whole wheat pasta, eating oatmeal for breakfast or adding it to baked good such as muffins, and using a combination of whole wheat and white flour when baking muffins or even pizza dough. Using only whole wheat flour can result in a gummy texture for some baked goods, but adding some whole wheat flour increases the nutritional value of the food.