The best whole-grain breads: Cooking and Nutrition

THE NEXT TIME YOU PICK UP a loaf of bread, make it whole grain. Not only do whole grains lower your risk of heart disease and cancer, they also provide steady energy. The best brands of bread use whole grains or whole-grain flour as their first ingredient and leave out preservatives and hydrogenated oils. To help you choose, we tasted slice after slice of natural whole-grain breads and chose our four favorites, listed here in order of preference. You'll find them in the freezer case of your supermarket or natural food store.

French Meadow           Per slice: 115 cal,       With its chewy
Bakery Healthy Hemp     8 g protein, 2 g fat,     texture and slightly
($4.29; 24 ounces)      15 g carb, 6 g fiber      sour tang, this
                                                  bread is perfect for
                                                  deli sandwiches.

Rudi's Organic Honey-   Per slice: 120 cal,       Best all-purpose,
Sweet Whole Wheat       3 g protein, 1.5 g fat,   kid-friendly
($3.69; 22 ounces)      25 g carb, 3 g fiber      sandwich bread.
                                                  Would be especially
                                                  good with PBJ.

Vermont Bread Company   Per slice: 70 cal,        Satisfyingly wheaty,
Soft Whole Wheat        4 g protein, 1 g fat,     this bread would
($3.19; 24 ounces)      14 g carb, 2 g fiber      make good grilled
                                                  cheese or tuna
                                                  sandwiches.

Nature's Path Multi-    Per Slice: 130 cal,       Dense, moist, and
grain Manna Bread       6 g protein, 0 g fat,     slightly sweet. An
($2.69; 14 ounces)      26 g carb, 4 g fiber      excellent choice for
                                                  morning toast with
                                                  jam.