Unboxed: 7 natural brands that celebrate healthy grains

And you thought grain free was the next hot thing.

While products that eschew grains, such as those certified for the Whole30 and paleo diets, have certainly gained traction in the past several years, there's also been a quiet emergence of products that laud nutrient-dense grains. Perhaps it’s the popularity of plant-based foods that's driven this trend—if a brand doesn’t want to use meat, dairy or eggs in a product formulation, protein and fiber-dense grains are a sterling way to get more nutrition in.

Data show that grain sales are up, too. According to estimates collected by Nutrition Business Journal, sales of dried grains are expected to grow 7.1 percent to $643 million in 2018.

The following novel products celebrate the humble grain, and familiarize consumers with lesser-known varieties such as barley, amaranth and red quinoa.