:R_iceis great for ~~ the ENVIRONMENTand the ECONOMYI ENVIRONMENT: Rice production helps both the United States Rice growing is eco-friendly and has environment and economy! a positive impact on the environment. Rice fields create a wetland habitat for many species of birds, mammals and reptiles. Without rice farming, wetland environ- ments created by flooded rice fields would be vastly reduced. ECONOMY: Rice production, milling and marketing in the United States creates a chain of activities across the economy that provides thousands of jobs, which are critical to the economic health of rural communities. Although the United States produces less than 2% of the world’s rice, it is a major exporter, accounting for about 9% of rice traded around the world.
~ START HERE! The United States is the largest non-Asian rice-exporting country, consistently ranking among the The Road to Rice top five rice-exporting nations in Help the kids reach the delicious, Come with me the world! nutritious rice at the center and I’ll show you of the maze. how U.S. farmers grow rice! Your family can join the USA Rice Recipe Club, just visit: www.usarice.com/consumer
2101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 610 • Arlington, VA 22201 GROWN IN THE USA (800) 888-RICE (7423) • www.usarice.com ?-?=Bf9W( 12 Where does rice grow? Using the map below, write the two-letter abbreviation for each state that produces rice in the appropriate place on chart to the right. Then, write each state’s capital in the space next to the state’s name. Hint: The names of the states are somewhere on these two pages.
~ STATE CAPITAL CITY 1. e originate? I did ric ' 2. here I W 3. The first documented evidence of I rice was found in China around 2,800 B.C. I 4. I From China, rice migrated to Greece, / 5. eventually finding its way to the 6. Western Hemisphere. / ' It rhymes wi ' ~ t: th ...... / in BU Can you name this H M B --x .,,.,; traditional Louisiana A P rice dish? A ----- Y A In America, colonists began growing rice around ! 1685. By 1700, rice was established as a major food source for the colonists. The rice industry has I continued to flourish ever since. \ \ Today, the vast majority of the rice consumed in the United States \ is U.S.-grown. Major rice-growing states include Arkansas, California, \ Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Texas. \ Since rice is a staple food of the United State’s population, it is no surprise that \ Throughout history, rice U.S. farmers different legends, fables and beliefs about rice have been passed on from genera- grow over tion to generation. Rice legends and folklore live on today. \ has been one of the world’s 20 billion pounds \ most important foods. of rice per year. Many people honor the tradition of throwing a handful of rice at newlyweds Today, this unique grain THAT’S A LOT as they leave the church. This ancient rice-throwing ritual originally symbolized OF RICE! X helps sustain half of the blessing of many children. Today, it symbolizes prosperity and abundance. hailand... the world’s population. The Japanese word for cooked rice is the same as the word for meal. In China, In T instead of saying, “How are you?” the typical Chinese greeting is “Have you had September is National your rice today?” In India, it is said that grains of rice should be like two broth- “Eat Rice Month – celebrating ers: close, but not stuck together. eans rice!” m eans the harvest of a new m“Come to dinner!” rice crop. “Come to dinner!”
2 3 Forms of Rice Rice undergoes various degrees of processing before it ever reaches your table. Here is a sample of the different varieties of rice available: BROWN RICE: Brown rice has the outer hull removed but still retains the bran layers, giving it a tan color. Brown rice is 100% whole grain. Colored rice such as red and black rice are also 100% whole grain! HULL REGULAR-MILLED WHITE RICE: Often referred to as “white” rice, it is the most common form of rice. The majority of white rice is enriched with thiamin, niacin, iron and fortified with folic acid to restore nutrients lost during milling. PARBOILED RICE: The rice is soaked in warm water under pressure, steamed and dried before the hull is removed. Parboiled rice is not precooked rice as the name might infer and is desirable in certain types of cooking. PRECOOKED RICE: Rice is milled, completely cooked, then dried to create a quicker cooking time when it is prepared to eat.
Rice is an ingredient in all types of delicious CRISPED OR PUFFED RICE: Rice is processed in a variety ® products such as candy bars, noodles, of ways like puffed rice (Rice Krispies and in candy bars) or in milk, cereal, pudding and more! flakes for cereals. E Apart from food products, rice is also used for making Scrambled Rice Words
straw and rope, cosmetics, OTHPASTE Unscramble the words below to form rice words found on MAKE-UP TO packing material and even these two pages. What exactly is rice? toothpaste! The rice grain is protected by a hull or rough outside layer when it is 1. TDSESESR ______harvested. The hull is removed, leaving the bran layers. This is known 2. EELKNR ______as whole grain brown rice. Under the bran layers is the starchy grain, which is known as white rice. Both brown and white rice are the 3. TSEITUNRN ______grains that you see and eat. 27 POUNDS! 4. BEOPRDALI CEIR ______,, 5. OOERPKCDE IREC ______(( • /2 Consumption of rice Types of Rice 6. FUPEFD ERCI ______Many different varieties of rice are grown in the United States. in the U.S. continues to climb. Americans 7. IRTOTSO ______The primary difference between these types of rice is their cooking consume around characteristics and in some cases, a subtle flavor difference. 27 pounds of 8. YCATHRS ______rice per person LONG GRAIN: Long grain rice has a long, slender kernel and is separate every year! 9. HSSIU ______and fluffy when cooked; it is often used in entrées, soups and pilafs. MEDIUM GRAIN: Medium grain rice has a shorter, wider kernel and is 10. EWHLO NRAGI______
often used in sushi, risotto and paella.
10. WHOLE GRAIN GRAIN WHOLE 10. SUSHI 9. STARCHY 8. RISOTTO 7. RICE PUFFED 6.
1.
SHORT GRAIN: Short grain rice has a short, plump, almost round kernel RICE PRECOOKED 5. RICE PARBOILED 4. NUTRIENTS 3. KERNEL 2. DESSERTS and is soft and sticky and used in puddings and other desserts.
4 5 U.S. Rice is exported to 1 more than In early spring, acres of 150 countries! seeds are planted to an We help feed exact depth by grain drills, or cast over dry or flooded the world with fields by airplane. our rice. 5 2 Dryers force warm, dry air through the rice, gradually Rice matures 100 to 180 days removing moisture from after planting. At first the rice the grain to a level is green, but as it ripens it suitable for storage. 7 becomes golden in color. Rice is packaged and transported to supermarkets, restaurants and food processors to use in 3 their products or it is exported to other countries. When rice is mature, water is drained off the field. Fields are dried and the rice is cut from the plants by machines called combines, which also separate the grain from the stalk.
6 4 After drying, rice is transported Trucks transport to a mill where millers clean and rough rice to rice dryers. pass rough rice through “sheller” machines that remove the hull. What remains is brown rice, which LICIOUS can be packaged or milled into DE ! white rice. Milling machines rub the grains together under TIOUS! pressure. This removes the bran TRI layer, revealing white rice. U USA Rice N FARM TO TABLE Did you ever wonder how rice makes The first gasoline-powered tractor its way to your kitchen table? was invented in Iowa in 1892.
6 7 Exercise Your Rice Knowledge. Rice is Reall , Search the word-find below to uncover the many healthy nutrients and qualities of rice. / Words can be found up, down, backwards, forwards and diagonal. GOOD FOR YOU! / BRAN Rice is not only delicious, but also very nutritious! Rice contains n w 0 f g r p u 0 n s rn 1 V h many of the nutrients your body needs to become strong and healthy. . CALCIUM l y y u e g r y s 1 b u. u g e a e g b a t g y a w s l y X a CARBOHYDRATE MyPlate recommends several one-ounce grain servings per day, with half of those . servings coming from whole grains (like brown rice). One half-cup cooked rice equals r h l r r u n r rn 0 C d s f 1 ENERGY a one-ounce serving of grains. Portions vary based on age and gender, so be sure g f b y e n e e C s d 0 z C t ENRICHMENT to visit choosemyplate.gov to find out what’s right for you. e ( b. r . a n. ) n p z rn a k s 1 X h FIBER • Brown rice is 100% whole grain. • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration 1 l k l 1 h 1 J r e y a p s b y GRAIN One /2 cup of whole grain brown rice says that diets rich in whole grain foods . provides one full whole grain serving with such as brown rice and other plant foods, 0 r p rn 0 d X 1 0 V C e V l d HEALTHY 15 essential nutrients, phytonutrients, and low in total fat, saturated fat and . . h 0 0 t C z V l t a rn l n s d fiber and important vitamins. cholesterol may help reduce the risk of IRON • Rice is sodium-, cholesterol- and heart disease and certain cancers. w n e e t a r d y h 0 b r a C gluten-free, has only a trace of fat . . MINERALS and no trans fat or saturated fat. z l r d h w 1 l d 0 u n e n t PROTEIN n X n k r k e C C d 0 s u t e . . SODIUM C l n a g r 0 k l e k f f h b . VITAMINS h b s e C n a n X u y g. n w J k f n k 0 d V rn 0 q rn J f t h WHOLE GRAIN
Along with including rice in your diet, here are some healthy eating tips for you:
• Eat lots of different kinds of foods each day; balance your food choices • Eat more whole grains, fruits and vegetables • Start your day with breakfast • Exercise and keep moving to stay in shape Rice is a • Snack smart high-energy food, • Set healthy eating goals supplying complex carbohydrates that • Make healthy eating fun! the body and brain need to function.
8 9 ® ® Rice bowls are fun Kellogg’s Rice Krispies kids in the This recipe has been tested and and easy to make! Treats endorsed by Kellogg’s® RIce Krispies® Rice bowls are easy to prepare: just start INGREDIENTS with rice and layer with 3 tablespoons margarine or butter vegetables, 1 10-oz. package regular marshmallows KITCHEN! protein and sauce. OR Rice is fantastic for breakfast, lunch, dinner and more! The possibilities are endless! Create your own 4 cups mini marshmallows Try making these delicious recipes at home with your family. customized recipes or mix and match your favor- 6 cups Kellogg’s® Rice Krispies® ite ingredients. DIRECTIONS Remember to ask your parents for Pizza Rice Bowl: 1. Melt margarine in large saucepan over low heat. help when using the stove. White rice topped with mushrooms, onions, Add marshmallows and stir until peppers, garlic, chopped tomatoes, pepperoni or completely melted. Remove from heat. sausage crumbles, shredded mozzarella cheese, 2. Add Kellogg’s® Rice Krispies® cereal. tomato sauce, oregano, basil and parmesan cheese. Stir until well coated. Cinna-Yummy Rice Cereal 3. Using buttered spatula or waxed paper, press Taco Rice Bowl: mixture evenly into 13x9x 2-inch pan coated INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS Rice White or brown rice topped with onions, green and with cooking spray. Cut into 2-inch squares 1 cup cooked brown or white rice 1. Combine rice, milk, brown sugar and cookers red pepper strips, taco-flavored chicken strips, beans, when cool. Best if served the same day. 2/3 cup milk cinnamon in small saucepan. make cooking chili or mole sauce, sour cream, taco chips and cheddar 1 tablespoon brown sugar 2. Turn burner to medium heat. rice easy! cheese. Makes 24 servings. Each serving provides: 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3. Place saucepan on burner, cook and stir 260 calories, 0g dietary fiber, 2g protein, 54g carbohydrate, 0mg cholesterol, 6g fat, 300mg sodium fresh blueberries, raspberries until thick and creamy, about 10 minutes. or strawberries (optional) 4. Turn burner off. 5. Spoon rice cereal into small bowl; cool 3 minutes. Vegetarian Sloppy Joes Makes 1 serving. Each serving provides: 6. Top with fresh berries. 331 calories, 1g dietary fiber, 10g protein, 62g carbohydrate, INGREDIENTS • Good cooks of all ages always 14mg cholesterol, 4g fat, 97mg sodium 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 3/4 cup hickory smoke wash their hands before cooking. barbecue sauce 1 medium onion, chopped • Read recipe directions 1 green pepper, chopped 4-6 whole grain buns first, then gather all Southwest Salsa Rice Bites 3 cups cooked brown rice ingredients. INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS 2 16-ounce cans Mexican 3 cups cooked brown rice, cooled 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. style pinto beans • Clean up as you go. 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese 2. Combine rice and cheese in DIRECTIONS • Be sure to turn off all 4 eggs large bowl; set aside. 1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. appliances when you 1 16-oz. jar medium (or hot) 3. In medium bowl, beat eggs until 2. Add onion and green pepper; cook 2-3 minutes. thick and chunky-style salsa well blended. Stir in salsa, sour cream, salt and pepper. are done cooking. Add salsa mixture to rice and cheese; mix well. 3. Add rice, beans and barbecue sauce. 1/2 cup sour cream • Enjoy your culinary 4. Spray miniature muffin pans with vegetable cooking spray. Spoon 4. Simmer 10-15 minutes, until heated through. 1/2 teaspoon salt creations! approximately 11/2 tablespoons rice mixture into each cup, filling 5. Serve on buns. 1/2 teaspoon pepper to just below the rim. Sprinkle crushed chips over filling, pressing 3/4 cup crushed corn or tortilla chips slightly with back of spoon. Makes 1 serving. Each serving provides: IMPORTANT 5. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until lightly browned. Serve warm 672 calories, 12g dietary fiber, 24g protein, 125g carbohydrate, 17mg cholesterol, Additional salsa and sour cream with additional salsa and sour cream, if desired. COOKING for garnish (optional) 10g fat, 1245mg sodium TIPS Makes 48 appetizers (8 servings). Each serving provides: 287 calories, 2g dietary fiber, 10g protein, 31g carbohydrate, 123mg cholesterol, Follow 14g fat, 784mg sodium package directions for cooking rice. 10 11