A method for preparing a food product and a food product thereof including a grain-based binder and being essentially free of added sugar. The method includes preparing a cooked grain flour and then hydrating the cooked grain flour either during or after cooking with a liquid to form a binder composition. The binder composition and one or more food ingredients are combined to form an agglomerate, and the agglomerate is thermally processed to obtain the food product.

A cookie that provides a prebiotic effect and/or a probiotic effect to a consumer is described. The cookie fails to contain refined sugars, synthetic vitamins, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), artificial sweeteners, and artificial preservatives. The cookie comprises at least two baked food compositions formed into a biscuit. Each of the at least two baked food compositions contains a polyphenol, a resistant starch, and a prebiotic soluble fiber. A crème filing is sandwiched between the at least two baked food compositions. The crème filing comprises a resistant starch, a nut butter, a vegetable fat, and spores of a probiotic bacterium. Consumption of the cookie increases Lactobacillus bulgaricus and butyrate in the consumer.

A cookie that provides a prebiotic effect and/or a probiotic effect to a consumer is described. The cookie fails to contain refined sugars, synthetic vitamins, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), artificial sweeteners, and artificial preservatives. The cookie comprises at least two baked food compositions formed into a biscuit. Each of the at least two baked food compositions contains a polyphenol, a resistant starch, and a prebiotic soluble fiber. A crème filing is sandwiched between the at least two baked food compositions. The crème filing comprises a resistant starch, a nut butter, a vegetable fat, and spores of a probiotic bacterium. Consumption of the cookie increases Lactobacillus bulgaricus and butyrate in the consumer.

Composite flour includes native plant flour and complexed MCT and/or other nutritional oil at least partially encapsulated by wall material and incorporated within the composite flour, wherein polysaccharide from a portion of the native plant flour forms part of the wall material. The wall material includes protein, e.g., pea protein, polysaccharide released from the native plant flour, and emulsifier(s), and/or polysaccharide fiber, e.g., acacia fiber. The native plant flour may be gluten-flour, gluten-free flour and/or low carbohydrate seed, nut or vegetable floor. Composite flours can replace traditional flours to make food products, such as baked, fried or boiled goods but with benefits, such as reduced gluten and/or carbohydrates, increased freshness and volume and improved texture and taste compared to alternative flours and even all-purpose flour. Composite flour can be blended with native flour and/or another composite flour to form blended flour.

Composite flour includes native plant flour and complexed MCT and/or other nutritional oil at least partially encapsulated by wall material and incorporated within the composite flour, wherein polysaccharide from a portion of the native plant flour forms part of the wall material. The wall material includes protein, e.g., pea protein, polysaccharide released from the native plant flour, and emulsifier(s), and/or polysaccharide fiber, e.g., acacia fiber. The native plant flour may be gluten-flour, gluten-free flour and/or low carbohydrate seed, nut or vegetable flour. Composite flours can replace traditional flours to make food products, such as baked, fried or boiled goods but with benefits, such as reduced gluten and/or carbohydrates, increased freshness and volume and improved texture and taste compared to alternative flours and even all-purpose flour. Composite flour can be blended with native flour and/or another composite flour to form blended flour.

Composite flour includes native plant flour and complexed MCT and/or other nutritional oil at least partially encapsulated by wall material and incorporated within the composite flour, wherein polysaccharide from a portion of the native plant flour forms part of the wall material. The wall material includes protein, e.g., pea protein, polysaccharide released from the native plant flour, and emulsifier(s), and/or polysaccharide fiber, e.g., acacia fiber. The native plant flour may be gluten-flour, gluten-free flour and/or low carbohydrate seed, nut or vegetable flour. Composite flours can replace traditional flours to make food products, such as baked goods, fried goods, boiled goods, or uncooked goods, but with benefits, such as reduced gluten and/or carbohydrates, increased freshness and volume and improved texture and taste compared to alternative flours and even all-purpose flour. Composite flour can be blended with native flour and/or another composite flour to form blended flour.

An agglomerate product comprises a significant percentage of whole grain materials. A whole grain dry component comprising its native starch form is agglomerated with other dry components to provide agglomerates that are highly dispersible agglomerates, which comprise a dry blend substantially comprising whole grains. The agglomerates can be added to modify beverages such as milk products to produce a ready-to-drink beverage that provides a minimum of about to 1 serving of whole grains per 8-ounce serving.