We looked at the nitty-gritty nutrition details of this popular Southern dish.
Grits are a popular Southern dish made from groundcorn.
Grits are easy to make and have some impressive nutritional benefits, too.
Getty Images / Lynne Mitchell
What Are Grits?
Grits are made from dried, ground dent corn, with a higher starch content than other corn varieties.
The ground corn is boiled with milk, water or broth to reach a creamy, porridge-like consistency.
The simplest way to enjoy grits is with butter and milk.
However, you could serve grits with cheeses, spices, sauces, vegetables, meat and seafood.
Similar to oatmeal, there are different varieties of grits.
To better understand them, it helps first to break down the anatomy of a grain.
The most commonly consumed grits, however, are regular and instant versions that have been processed.
This means they have less fiber and fewer vitamins and minerals.
Pair them with fruit in the morning for optimal absorptionvitamin Chelps increase the absorption of plant-based iron.
Grits aren’t just for breakfast, though.
Try a savory version, likeShrimp & Grits with TomatoorShrimp-&-Grits Stuffed Peppers.
B vitamins help keep metabolism, cells and energy levels healthy.
Grits are also rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidants that keepeyes healthy.
It’s a myth that people with diabetes can’t eat carbohydrate-rich foods like grits.
They can become more or less healthful, depending on how you prepare them.
