What is Cream of Rice, Is It Healthy and Why

What is cream of rice? Have you heard about its bodybuilding benefits? Find out how and why!

What is Cream of Rice?

Cream of rice is a very healthy and gluten-free alternative to cream of wheat. Most simply put, cream of rice is a type of bland flour.

It is made of uncooked, ground rice and it is most commonly used as a hot cereal meal. This meal is packed with carbs, which is why it is commonly referred to as a bodybuilding snack.

Bodybuilders consume this cream because it is high in carbohydrates and severs as a great sort of a fuel and energy source, which is why it is used as a pre-workout meal.

You can easily find packaged cream of rice in stores but these products are processed and usually something is added to them to increase the nutritious values.

Best if Homemade

If you want to make a healthier choice, it is best to prepare homemade this type of cream instead of purchasing processed varieties. Besides, making your own cream of rice is far cheaper than buying packages of it 😉

Most importantly, this is a very easy ingredient or meal to make and it shouldn’t take you longer than ten minutes to do it. While this cream is already a healthy snack, you can boost its nutritional values by soaking the rice overnight.

This will get you far better results than preparing packaged and processed cream of rice.

In What Cuisines is Cream of Rice Used?

As with most rice products, cream of rice originates from Asia. For example, in Southern India, this type of a rice product is known as Rava and it is used as an ingredient in various Indian dishes.

This cream can also be a substitute for flour in many dishes, as it is a far healthier choice. It is also very popular in America, however, here it is most commonly used as a hot cereal meal.

Its nutritional values and texture make it a perfect baby food. Since cream of rice is gluten-free, it is a very popular choice of people with gluten allergies or those looking to completely cut out gluten from their diet.

Some people may not find it enjoyable because of its plain taste but for those looking after their diet it is a perfect choice for a snack meal!

How to Make Cream of Rice

As we already mentioned, cream of rice is very simple to make and it is much better to make your own rather than to purchase packaged and processed products.

The whole process of making cream of rice won’t take you longer than ten minutes.

As the best example we have chosen this video by Shreddy Brek, where he explains how to prepare cream of rice at home.

Depending on your preferences, you can either use white or brown rice. Since brown rice is generally healthier and richer in nutrients, it is naturally a better choice for any meal.

Whichever rice variety you choose, you are going to need 150 grams of it to prepare a nice, homemade cream of rice.

What You Need:

• Besides the rice, you are going to need water
• Pot and a blender
• If you wish, you can add flavor to the mixture, as clean cream of rice has quite a plain taste.
• You can also add protein powder if you’re making a pre-workout meal or if your goal is to increase muscle mass in general. However, all this is optional.

Procedure:

1. For starters, you need to boil the water in a pot.
2. While the water is boiling, blend the rice in a blender until it gets a fine powder texture and consistency.
3. If you have a more powerful blender, it will be easier to fully grind the rice into powder.
4. Once the water has boiled, you can add flavored powder or protein powder to it. If you decide to do so, a tablespoon of each will be enough.
5. Then add the ground rice and stir the mixture with a wooden spoon. You can then reduce the temperature to let the cream simmer but don’t stop stirring, as clumps may form otherwise.
6. Once the mixture gets a thicker consistency, it is ready to be served and consumed. Make sure not to serve it until it thickens, as it is not supposed to be too liquid-like.

Is Cream of Rice Healthy?

Whether cream of rice is a good option for your diet depends on your levels of activity and body goals in general. For example, since it is high in carbs, the cream of rice is not a good choice for those trying to lose weight and reduce fat mass.

If your goal is to cut your weight down, make sure to consume little to no cream of rice. If the high amount of calories can fit into your daily routine and the number of calories you burn throughout the day, then you can occasionally consume this type of a rice meal.

However, this cream has great nutritional values and it stimulates muscle growth, which is why it is such a great food for bodybuilders. Because of the high amount of carbs and calories it contains, it makes for a great pre-workout meal to boost your energy levels.

Other benefits of the cream of rice include the fact that it is gluten-free. Therefore, people avoiding gluten due to allergies and other health reasons can use this as a great snack alternative.

This type of cream is also easily digestible and helps improve metabolism. It is commonly used as a baby food, which goes to show how beneficial it can be. On top of that, it is a good type of food for people with celiac disease as well!

Summary

Overall, cream of rice is a healthy and nutritious energy source. It makes for a perfect meal for body builders and people with gluten allergies, among others who simply enjoy its taste and texture.

Keep in mind that homemade cream of rice is much healthier and more recommended than the packaged kind you can find in stores. Let us know what your thoughts are when it comes to this kind of cream in the comments below!