The Story of Wheat for Kids

Grades 3 to 5

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TheNebraskaWheatBoard(NWB)wasformedin1955aftertheNebraskaWheatResourcesActwaspassed.ThemissionofNWBistoincreasebothdomesticandforeignconsumptionofwheatandwheatfoodproductsthroughmarketingandresearch,aswellastohelpdevelopandmaintainbothdomesticandexportmarketsfortheNebraskawheatproducer.AllNWBpoliciesareestablishedbyasevenmemberboardofdirectors.TheboardofdirectorsiscomposedofwheatproducersfromacrossNebraskawhoareappointedbytheGovernor.

Eachbushelofwheatmarketedinthestateisassessedanexcisetaxof0.4%ofnetvalueofwheatmarketedinNebraskaatthepointoffirstsale.ThesemoniesaredepositedintotheStateTreasuryandareusedbyNWBtoadvanceNebraska’swheatindustry.Toensurethatfundsarebeingspentinthebestway,theboardofdirectorsoverseesallexpenditures.

Nebraska’s Wheat Fields

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Haveyoueverbeenonawheatfarm?HereinNebraskaabout1.6millionacresofwheataregrowneachyear.Nebraskaproducestwotypesofwheat:hard red winter wheat and hard white winter wheat. Most of the wheat is growninthesouthernpartofthepanhandlethroughsoutheastNebraskaandalongtheKansas-Nebraskaborder.

HowdoIknowsomuchaboutwheat?MynameisJennyJohnsonandIliveonaNebraskawheatfarm.Besides,Iliketoeatbread,pasta,cereal,pretzels,tortillas,andabunchofothergoodiesmadewithwheat.SinceIliketoeatalotofwheatproducts,Idecidedtolearnmoreaboutwheat.

Doyouwanttoknowmoreaboutwheattoo?Comewithmeandmytwofriends-WillieandWendyWheat.Together,wewilldiscoverhowfarmersgrowwheatandhowthisgoldencropbecomesthefoodswelove.

3

Welcome to Willie & Wendy Wheat’s

wheat farm.

4

TherearehundredsofvarietiesofwheatgrownintheUnitedStates,buttheyaregroupedintosixclassesbasedonhardness,color,andthetimeofyeartheywereplanted.Thesixclassesofwheatare:hardredspring,hardredwinter,hardwhite,softredwinter,softwhite,anddurum.

Millersandbakersneedtoknowwhatclassofwheattheyareusing,becauseeachtypeofwheatmakesadifferenttypeofflourandisusedindifferenttypesoffoods.Hardwheatvarietiesareusedtomakebreadsandrolls.Thesoftwheatvarietiesareusedincakes,cereals,pastries,andcrackers.Durum,thehardestwheatofallisusedinmyfavoritefood,pasta-macaroni,spaghetti,lasagna,andmore.Hardredspringwheathasthemostprotein.Itisusuallyblendedwithotherclassesofwheattomakeall-purposeflour.

Wheat is “Classy”

Where Wheat is GrownColor in purplethestatesthatgrowsoftwhitewheat:Washington,Oregon,Idaho,Michigan,and New York.

Color in greenthestatesthatgrowhardredwinterwheat:Montana,Nebraska,Kansas,Colorado,Oklahoma,andTexas.

Color in bluethestatesthatgrowsoftredwinterwheatare:Missouri,Illinois,Indiana,Ohio,Maryland,Virginia,NorthCarolina,SouthCarolina,Kentucky,Tennessee,Arizona,Louisiana,Alabama,Mississippi,andGeorgia.

Color in yellowthestatesthatgrowhardredspringwheat:Montana,NorthDakota,SouthDakota,andMinnesota.

Color in red the statethatgrowsthemostdurum:North Dakota.

Hard white wheat is grownintheU.S.too,butitisgrownmoresporadicallyacross the UnitedStates.

5

Here is a wheat kernel,orseed.Itisenlargedsoyoucanseehowcomplexonekernelis.Kernelsareverytinyevensmallerthanourlittlefingernails!Thereareabout50kernelsinaheadofwheatand15,000to17,000kernelsinjust one pound.

Thelargerinnerportionofthekerneliscalledtheendosperm.Itisthepartthatisgroundtomakewhiteflour.Thehardoutercoatingisthebran,sometimesusedincereals,muffins,andbreads.Thisportionismadeofmanylayers.Finally,thetiniestpartofthekernelisthegerm.Itisthepartthatgrowsintoanewwheatplantifthekernelisplantedinthesoil.

Whole-wheatflourismadewhenthewholekernelisgroundormilled.Whole-wheatflourcontainsallthreepartsofthekernel.

Warmmoistdaysmakethewheatplantsgrowquickly.Theyusuallygrowtobe2to4feettall.Awheatplanthasfourbasicparts:head,stem,leaves,androots.Theheadcontainsthekernels.Thestemsupportsthehead.Theleavesconductphotosynthesisandtherootsholdtheplantinthesoil.

Meet the Kernel

Plant Parts

Bran

Endosperm

Germ

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Plant IdentificationFillintheblankswiththecorrectpart(s)ofthewheatkernel.Youwillusethesewords: bran endosperm germ

____________________1.Iamthehardoutercoveringofthekernel.

____________________2.Iamthesmallestpartofthekernel.

____________________3.Iamthelargestpartofthekernel.

____________________4.Iammadeofmanythinlayers.

____________________5.Imakewhiteflour.

____________________6.Iamwherethenewwheatplantbeginstogrow.

____________________7.Wemakeupwhole-wheatflour.

____________________8.Inourishtheyoungplantwhenitstartstogrow.

____________________9.Iamusedincereals.

____________________10.Iamthepartyoutouchwhenyouawholekernelofwheat.

Fillinthepartsofthewheatplant:leaves,head,roots,stem,kernel

Identifytheendosperm,bran,andgermofthiswheatkernel.

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Nebraskafarmers,likemymomanddad,growhardredwinterwheatandhardwhitewheat.Nebraskafarmersgrowabout65to75millionbushelsofwheateachyear.Thestateranks 11thinoverallwheatproduction.Nebraskaisjustoneofninestatesthatproducehardwhite wheat.

InNebraska,mostwheatissowed,orplantedinSeptember.Thisisbecausethewheatwillgrowalittlebitandthenstopgrowingwhenitgetscold,butnotdie.Whenitbeginstogetcoldthewheatwillgothroughvernalization.Vernalizationiswhentheplanthastobeincoldtemperaturesforacertainlengthoftimesothatitcancontinuegrowinginthespringwhenitgetswarmagain.

Longbeforethewheatcanbeplanted,muchworkneedstobedonetopreparethesoil.Mymomanddaduseafield cultivator or chisel plowpulledbyatractortotillthesoil.Achiselplowlookslikethepicturebelow.Itisbeingpulledbyatractor.Tillageissimilartohoeingagarden.Itbreaksthesoilintosmallpiecesandkillsweedsthatgrowearlyinthespring.Afterthesoilhasbeenbrokenup,myparentsplantwheatwithagrain drill.Thedrillcreatesafurroworgrooveinthesoil,dropstheseedinatanevendepth,coverstheseed,andpacksthesoil.

MyuncleJoepreparesandplantshisfieldsinalittledifferentway.Heusesano-till drillthatplacesthewheatseedinthesoilwithoutbreakingupthesoilintosmallpieces.Thismethodofplantinghelpspreventthesoilfromeroding,orwearingaway.Itconserves,orsaves,thesoilanditsnutrients.

Sowing the Way

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Whatevermethodfarmersuse,theyworkhardtofightinsects,plantdiseases,andweeds.Theirgoalistoprovideyouandyourfamilywithatasty,safe,andabundantfoodsupply.

The moisture,orwater,inthesoiliswhatmakesthewheatplantstarttogrow.Atfirst,thegerm,orthegrowingpartoftheseed,getsitsfoodfromtheendosperm.Asthewheatgrowstaller,itgetsfoodfromthesoilandthroughitsroots.Thewheatplant’sgreenleavesalsomakefoodfromthesunshinethroughaprocesscalledphotosynthesis.

Farmershavetomovefastwhenthewheatisripe,orreadytoharvest.WhileMotherNatureusuallycooperates,myparentsracetoharvestthecrop,becausearipewheatfieldcanbedestroyedbywind,rain,hail,andevenfire.Wheatcan’tbeharvestedifit’srainy.Wheatneedstobedrytobestoredwithoutspoiling.

Growing, Growing, Growing...

_____________________1.tproxe-sellingproductstoanothercountry

_____________________2.ceosnrev-savingthesoil

_____________________3.htsnhsspooytei-thewaywheatplantsmakefoodusingsunshine

_____________________4.drahdresgrnip-theclassofwheathighestinprotein&usedto

makeyeastbreads

_____________________5.asniemol-thecoarselygrounddurumendospermusedtomake

pasta

_____________________6.obnmeci-cuts,separates,andcleansgrainallatthesametime

_____________________7.erac-apieceoflandmorethanhalfaslargeasafootballfield

_____________________8.draeg-thepricefarmersreceivefortheirwheatattheelevator

depends on this

_____________________9.mdruu-theclassofwheatusedtomakepasta

_____________________10.lubshe-wheatisoftenboughtandsoldbythisunitof

measurementfordrygoods

Scrambled Terms

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Casey Combine helps us with harvest.

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Howdofarmersknowwhenthewheatis“justright”forharvest?Manyfarmerstakeasampleofwheattothelocalelevator.Therethewheatistestedtoseeifitisdryenoughtoharvest.Otherfarmers,likemydad,checktheirwheatthe“old-fashioned”way.Theyrubthewheatheadintheirhands,blowawaythechaff,orthestrawlikeoutercoveringofthekernel,andchewsomeofthegrain.Ifthekernelsarehardandmakeagummysubstanceastheyarechewedthefarmersknowthewheatisreadytobecut.

Becauseofallthedifferentclimates,wheatdoesn’tripenatthesametimeeverywhereintheUnitedStates.HarvestbeginsinMayinhotsouthernstateslikeTexasandOklahoma.AssummercontinuesharvestmovesnorthuptoNorthDakotaandMinnesota.InNebraska,harvestusuallybeginsinearlyJulyandlastsuntilmid-August,aboutthetimewestartanewschoolyear.

Wheatisharvestwithagiantmachinecalledacombine.Itcuts,separates,andcleansgrainallatthesametime.Beforethecombinewasinvented,mygrandparentshadtousetwoseparatemachinesforharvest-areaper,orbinder,tocutthegrainandathreshingmachinetoseparatethekernelsfromthechaffandstems.Thecombinegotitsname,becauseit“combines”thejobsofbothmachines.

Combineshavemadewheatharvestingmuchfasterandeasier.Itusedtotakethreewholedaystocutandthreshanacreofwheat.Anacreisapieceoflandthatismorethanhalfthesizeofafootballfield!Todaywithalargecombine,myparentscanharvestanacreinlessthansixminutes.

Whatexactlydoes“harvesting”mean?Itmeansthewheatkernelsareremovedfromthewheatplantandplacedintoahopperwhichislikeabigbowlthatwillholdthewheatonthecombine.Whenthehoppergetsfull,thewheatisunloadedintoatruck.Atourfarm,thetruckorsemiisusuallydrivenbymyolderbrotherorsister.Then,thegrainishauledtoastoragebinonthefarmortothegrainelevatorintown.

Pickin’ Time

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Sammy Semi helps us move the wheat

to storage bins.

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Thestoragebinsatagrainelevatorareusuallyreallytallwhitecylindershapedbuildings.Thegrainisemptiedintoapit,andthengetsraisedor“elevated”intooneofthetallbins.InmyhometownofWheaton,thegrainelevatoristhetallestbuildingaround.

Attheelevator,eachloadofwheatissampledandgradedforquality.Thepriceafarmergetsforthewheatdependsonitsgrade.Justlikesomeofmyfriends’allowancesdependonthegradestheygetinschool,thebetterthegradethemoremoneythefarmerreceives.

Fromtheelevator,thewheatissentbytrainortrucktoamill.Themilliswherethewheatisgrounduptomakeflourforourfood.Thetypeofflourproduceddependsupontheclassofwheatitwasmadefrom.

To Market, To Market

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We sell our wheat at the local elevator.

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Wheatisoftenboughtandsoldbythebushel,aunitofmeasurementfordrygoods.Abushelofwheatweighs60pounds.Fromonebushel,aflourmillcanmakeabout59poundsofwhole-wheatflouror42poundsofwhiteflour.Abakerythencanmake64oneandahalfpoundloavesofwhole-wheatbreador42oneandahalfpoundloavesofwhitebread.

• Onebushelofwheatyields42loavesofwhitebread.Theaverageoneandahalfpoundloaf(thesizeweusuallyfindinthesupermarket)has24slices.

• 24slicesX42loaves=1,008slicesofbread.That’senoughtomake504sandwiches!Ifyouateasandwichforbreakfast,lunch,anddinneritwouldtakeabout168daystoeatallthewhitebreadfromonebushelofwheat!

Whilewheatflouristhemainingredientinbread,thepriceofwheathaslittletodowiththepriceofbread.Didyoueverwonderwherethemoneygoeswhenyourfamilybuysaloafofbreadatthesupermarket?

Aoneandahalfpoundloafofwhitebreadcostsabout$3.00.Ofthatamount,thefarmergetsonly10to20cents.Therestofthemoneyprovidesjobsforotherpeoplewhohelpmakewheatintobread.Itpayspeoplewhoworkattheelevator,flourmill,bakery,railroad,truckingcompanies,andthesupermarket.Italsopaysforpackagingcosts.

Bushels of Fun

Who Gets the Dough?

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ThewheatgrownhereandintherestoftheUnitedStatestravelstoothercountiessopeopletherecaneatwheatfoodstoo.Notallchildrengrowupeatingbreadlikeyouandme.Instead,someeatmostlyricefoods.WheatfarmersintheUnitedStatessendpeopletoforeigncountriestoteachpeopletherehowtomakeandusebreads,cereals,andotherwheatfoodsintheirdailydiets.Whenpeoplefromothercountriesrealizewheatfoodsaregoodforthemandtastegoodtoo,theircountriesbuywheatfromAmericanfarmers.

Wheat farmers exporttheirwheat,orsellittoothercountries,becausetheyraisemorethanweAmericanscaneat.Infact,theUnitedStatessellsabouthalfthewheatwegrowtoabout100differentnationsaroundtheworld-everywherefromJapantoVenezuela.

World Class Traveler

Bread Around the WorldPITAWONTON BAGEL TORTILLA SCONE FRYBREADCROISSANT

1.FromacountryinAsia,thesenoodle-doughdumplingsarefilledwithspicedmeat.Thentheyareboiledinsouporfriedandeatenasasidedish.___________________________

2.Madefromcornorflourdoughpattedintothin,flatrounds,andfriedonahotgriddle.ItisadailybreadinacountryonthesamecontinentastheU.S.__________________________

3.Niftylittlepocketbreadsfromthemiddleeastareround,flat,andhollowintheinside.Theymakegreatsandwiches._________________________

4.Flaky,tender,crescent-shapedrollsfromthelandoftheEiffelTower.__________________

5.BroughttoAmericabyPolishimmigrants,thesechewybakedrollswithaholeareofteneatenwithcreamcheeseorothertastytoppings._____________________________

6.Smallroundbreadsfriedinhotoil.Theyhavebeenmadebythethousandsforpow-wowsandotherspecialoccasions.___________________________

7.FromacountryontheislandofGreatBritain,thesebiscuitlikebreadsarecutintobig,thicktrianglesandbaked.Theyareusuallyservedwithtea._______________________

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Doyouseetheplatedividedintosectionsabove?Theplateremindsusofthekindsoffoodsandhowmuchofeachfoodweshouldeat.Somesectionsoftheplatearebiggerthanotherstoshowthatyoushouldeatmorefoodsfromthosegroupsandfewerfoodsfromgroupsinthesmallersections.Thegrainandvegetablegroupsarethelargest.

Thepartoftheplateontheupperrightisforthegraingroup.Color the grain section orange.WheatisthemostcommongraineatenintheUnitedStates.Othercommongrainsincludebarley,oats,corn,andrice.Weneedtoincludegrainsinourdietfortheenergyandothernutrientsthattheyprovide.

Wheat- the Energizer

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Somefoodgroupshavelargersectionsontheplate.Thatshowsusthatweneedtoeatthesefoodgroupsmostoften.Foodswithaddedsugarandfatshouldbeeatenlessoften.Candy,chips,andsodaareforeatingonceinawhile,insmallamounts,aslongasweexercise.

Forexampleinthegrainsgroup,pastaisahealthylow-fatchoice.Cakes,cookies,pies,anddonutsarealsointhegraingroup,butarehighinfatandaddedsugar.Ieatthesefoodsonspecialoccasions.Then,Igooutsideforawalkwithmydogorfindanotherfunwaytoexercise!

For more nutrition lessons, visit www.choosemyplate.govNutritional information is also available at www.wheatfoods.org

Wheatfoodsprovidecomplex carbohydrates thatgiveourbodiesenergytorun,play,andwork.Complexcarbohydrateshelpourbrainsthinksowecangetgoodgradesinschool.Fiberinwheatfoodskeepsourdigestivesystemsmovingonschedule.WheatalsohasB-vitamins and ironthatourbodiesusetoturnfoodintoenergy,muscles,andhealthynerves.Athleteseatalotofwheatproductsforthesereasons.Theyknowwheatfoodsgivethemenergywithoutmanycalories.

Thevegetablesectionisnextonthebottomleftsideoftheplate.Color it green. Some kidsdon’teatenoughvegetables.Itisimportanttoeatdarkgreenandorangevegetables.Ilikebroccoli,carrots,spinach,andsweetpotatoes.

Color the next section in the upper left of the plate red for fruits.Ialwaysputfreshfruitinmybackpack.Apieceoffruitismysnackeveryday.Ilikedried,frozen,andcannedfruits.

Thelastsectionontheplateonthebottomrightisforprotein.Color it purple. Beef,pork,chicken,turkey,fish,nuts,beans,peanutbutter,andeggsareallfromthisgroup.Theyprovideironandprotein,whichisimportantinbuildingmuscles.

Thecirclenexttotheplateisforthedairygroup.Color it blue.Dairyfoodsaremadefrommilkwhichincludesyogurtandcheese.Calcium frommilkisimportantforbuildingstrongbonesandteeth.

Nowwithyourplatecoloredorange,greed,red,purple,andthecirclecoloredblue,remembertoeateverycoloreveryday.Thedifferentcolorsremindustoeatfoodsfromallthefoodgroups.

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Whenyouchoosewholegrainsforatleasthalfyourgrainservingseachday,yougetallthreehealthypartsofthewheatkernel.Fiberfromthebranisimportantforgoodhealth,andsoarethevitamins,minerals,andothernutrients.Justbecausebreadisbrowndoesnotmeanthatthebreadiswholegrain.Youwillknowafoodismadefromwholegrainifthewords“whole”or“wholegrain”appearbeforethegrain’snameintheingredientlist.Lookattheingredientlabelonfoodpackagessuchasbreadandtortillawrappersorpastaandcerealboxes.

Theotherhalfofyourdailygrainservingscancomefromothergrainfoods.Whiteflourmilledfromtheendospermofthewheatkernelisusedtomakewhitebread.Regularpastaismadewithsemolinamilledfromtheendospermofthedurumkernel.WhiteflourandsemolinaareenrichedwithironandfourB-vitaminsknownasthiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and folic acid.Enrichedgrainfoodslikewhitebreadhavetwicethefolicacid,thiamin,andriboflavinofwholewheat.Folicacidhelpsmomsgivebirthtohealthybabies.

Whole Grain is Healthy

Match Your Food to Your PlateEveryfoodgrouphasasectiononMyPlate.Choosethefoodgroupinwhicheachofthesefoodsbelong.

G=Grains F=Fruit D=Dairy V=Vegetables P=Protein

____Wholewheatbread

____Broccoli

____Chickennuggets

____Yogurt

____ Baked Sweet Potato

____ Peach

____ Roast Beef

____Cereal

____Milk

____Watermelon

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Nothingtastesasgoodasasliceoffreshbreadrightoutoftheoven!Itissoft,fluffy,andchewy-good!Flourcanbemadefromothergrainslikerye,oats,andbarley.Wheatflourisusedmostofteninbaking,becauseitcontainsamagicalproteincalledgluten. Some other grainshaveglutentoo,butnotasmuchaswheat.

Iwillshowyouhowglutenworks,butfirstyouneedtoknowaboutanotheringredi-entinbreadcalledyeast. Yeast is what makes the bread rise,orincreaseinsize.Whenyeastismixedwithwarmwaterandflourtomakebreaddough,theyeastgets“active”andmakesthousandsoftinyairbubbles.Thesebubblesneedtobetrappedinthedoughsoitwillriseandbecomelight.Glutenhelpstrapthesebubbles.

Glutenisstretchy-sortoflikebubblegum!Theglutentrapsairbubblesfromtheyeastandkeepstheminthedough.Allthetinyholesinasliceofbreadwereformedbyglutenbubbles.

Sinceothergrainsdon’thaveasmuchglutenaswheat,breadmadefromothergrainsisheavier.Therefore,wheatflourisusuallycombinedwithotherflourstomakerye,pumpernickel,barley,andothermulti-grainbreads.

Thirsty Experiment Glutenisa“thirstyprotein”thatsoaksupalotofwater.Youcanseehowmuchglutenisindifferentkindsofflourwithasimpleexperiment.Youwillneed1cupofwheatflourand1cupofryeorbarleyflourFirst,mixenoughwaterwiththewheatflourtomakeasmooth,clay-likedough.Next,mixthesameamountofwaterwiththeryeorbarleyflourandstir.Whatdoyoudiscover?Becausethereisn’tenoughglutenintheothergrainflourtosoakupthemoistureitstaysstickyand wet.

CrossoutthelettersG,J,K,Q,U,andZtorevealgoodthingswheatfoodsprovideforyourgrowingbody.

G J C G O Q M P Z L E J X Z C K A K R B K O K H K Y D R G A J T E S Q UG Z K J Q U F K I J B E G R Z Q U J K J L O K W J K F J A T Z J K Q U ZK J G U Q G U V J I Q T A J M I N S K G J Z Q U Z J K Z P Z R J O T K E I J N G

It’s Magic!

Nutrition Cross-Out

20

Wendy likes to bake with wheat.

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Let’s Bake Pretzels!

1½cupswarmwater(105°F-115°F)2packagesactivedryyeast¼cupsugar½teaspoonsalt¼cupvegetableoil

4–4½cupsbreadorall-purposeflour,divided*1eggwhite1tablespoonwaterSesameseedsorpoppyseeds

Measurewarmwaterintolargebowl.Sprinkleinyeast;stiruntildissolved.Addsugar,salt,oil,and3cupsofflour;beatuntilsmooth.Gradually,addremainingflourtomakeasoftdough.

Kneaddoughbyhandfor10minutesonalightlyflouredsurface.Coverbowlandletrestfor30minutes.Dividedoughinto24pieces;coverandletrestfor5minutes.Rolleachpieceintoauniform18-inchrope.Shapeintoapretzelbymakingacircle,overlappingthetwoends,twistingtheendsonce,andthenpressingthemontothebottomcurveofthecircle.Doughmayalsobeshapedinto8-inchbreadsticks.

Placeongreasedbakingsheets.Beateggwhiteandwatertogether;brushpretzeltops.Sprinklewithsesameorpoppyseeds.Bakeinapreheated,425°Fovenfor12to15minutesoruntilgoldenbrown.Removefrombakingsheets;coolonwirerack.Eatwhencoolandenjoy!

Makes24pretzels.

NutritionalAnalysis:Eachpretzelprovides108calories(21percentfromfat),2.4gramsofprotein,2.5gramsoffat,19gramsofcarbohydrates,0.7gramsfiber,and134milligramssodium.

*Uptotwocupsofwhole-wheatflourmaybesubstitutedforanequalamountofall-purposeflour

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Wheat Foods Crossword PuzzleWORD BANK

GRAVYSANDWICHSPAGHETTIRAVIOLIPRETZELBREADLICORICEPANCAKEBUNSFLOUR

MACARONIROLL

BAGELWAFFLE

LASAGNACEREALTORTILLA

CREAMOFWHEATCROISSANTBREADSTICKS

Across1.Aflaky,rich,crescent-shapedroll.2.Asaltedsnackfoodshapedlikefoldedarms.3.Hamburgersandhotdogsareservedonthisbread.4.Asmallroundloafofbreadeatenwithameal.5.Eatenonmashedpotatoes;rhymeswithgravy.7.Abreakfastfoodwithsquare-shapeddentsalloverit.9.Roundandflat,thisbreakfastfoodisservedwithsyrup.13.Theoutercoveringoftacos.14.Abakeddishmadeoflayersofbroadflatpasta,cheese,tomatoes,andmeat.15.Smallpocketsofpastafilledwithmeatorcheese. 17.Abreakfastfoodservedinabowlandcoveredwithmilk.18.Apeanutbutterandjelly____________.

Down1.Ahotcream-stylecereal.2.Ahard,glazed,ringshapedrolloftenspread with cream cheese.6.Acandyropethatisusuallyredorblack.8.Longskinnypastaofteneatenwithmeatballs.10.Curvedtubularpastaoftenservedwithcheese. 11.Longnarrowstripsofbreadoftenservedwith pasta and pizza.12.Finelygroundwheatkernelsusedtomakebread.16.Servedtoastedforbreakfast.

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Whenyouheartheword“wheat”,doyouautomaticallythinkofbreadandpasta?IknowIdo.Didyouknowthatwheatcanbeusedforthingsotherthanfood?Wheatandwheatstrawhavemanyalternativeuses.Thismakeswheatavaluablecrop.Alltheitemslistedbelowcan be made from wheat. Place an X beside those that you and your family use each day.

____cosmetics

____pet,livestock,andfishfeed

____drugstoreproducts

____eatingutensils

____ethanolforgaspurification

____particleboard

____ food thickener

____foodtraysandcontainers

____genetictests

____insulation

____packagingmaterials

____ paper

____laundrysoap

____roofingandbuildingmaterials

____shootingtargets

____ sweetener

____trashbags

Beyond the Table

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1. WhattypeofwheatismostcommoninNebraska?

2.Thesmallestpartofthewheatkerneliscalledthe_____________.

3.Whatistheprocesscalledwhenawheatplant’sleavesmakefoodfromthesun?

4.Wheatistakenintothe_____________________intownforstorage.

5.Howmuchdoesabushelofwheatweigh?25lbs.60lbs.100lbs.

6.Howmanyloavesofwheatbreaddoesonebushelofwheatmake?206495

7.WhichareNOTpartsofawheatplant:headfootleavesstemtrunkkernelroots

8.TrueorFalse:WheatcanNOTbeharvestedifitistoowet.

9.TrueorFalse:TheUnitedStatesusesallofthewheatitgrows.

10.Whatmachinedofarmersusetoharvesttheirwheat?

Well,nowyouknowallaboutwheat,thecropthatmyfamilygrowsonourfarm.Let’sseewhatyourememberaboutthisimportantandversatilegrain.

Summary

Wheat Quiz

25

Answers

Bran

Endosperm

Germ

NUTRITION CROSS-OUTG J C G O Q M P Z L E J X Z C K A K R B K O K H K Y D R G A J T E S Q UG Z K J Q U F K I J B E G R Z Q U J K J L O K W J K F J A T Z J K Q U ZK J G U Q G U V J I Q T A J M I N S K G J Z Q U Z J K Z P Z R J O T K E I J N G

ComplexCarbohydrates,Fiber,Low-Fat,Vitamins,Protein

SCRAMBLED TERMS1.export 6.combine2.conserve 7.acre3.photosynthesis 8.grade4.hardredspring 9.durum5.semolina 10.bushel

PLANT IDENTIFICATION

1. bran2.germ3. endosperm4.bran5. endosperm6.germ7.bran,germ,endosperm8. endosperm9. bran10.bran

Wheat Plant Diagram Wheat Kernel Diagram

FOOD MATCHINgGWhole-wheatbreadVBroccoliDYogurtVBakedPotatoFPeachP Roast BeefGCerealDMilkFWatermelon

WHEAT QUIz1. hard red winter wheat2.germ3.photosynthesis4.grainelevator5.60lbs.6.647.footandtrunk8. True9.False10.combine

Wheat Foods Crossword Puzzle

BREAD AROUND THE WORLD1.wonton 2.tortilla 3.pita 4.croissant 5.bagel 6.frybread 7.scones

Nebraska Wheat Board301CentennialMallSouth•P.O.Box94912•Lincoln,NE68509

Phone(402)471-2358•Fax(402)471-3446E-mail:wheat.board@nebraska.gov•Website:www.nebraskawheat.com

Adapted from “Wheat for Kids” in 1994. Revised in 1999, 2001, 2005, and 2011.