Corey Brown and Lily "Tigerlily" Hinton came in first and second at the Bluegrass Nationals BMX competition in Louisville, Kentucky — in the 6-year-olds' category.

Let’s hope they do as well in the BX contest, a nutritional challenge from Danish scientists. They've found that whole grains deliver more than vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber. They also contain powerful immune-system boosters called BX (benzoxazinoids) that kids (and adults) need to have in good supply.

In addition to helping kids avoid excess weight gain, Type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure (up to 30 percent of obese girls and boys have high blood pressure), eating three servings of whole grains a day fights infection. That's about one-half cup of cooked brown rice or 1 cup of steel-cut oatmeal.

Here are tabletop tricks for three unusual grains:

• Millet. Lightly toast one-half cup in a small pan until fragrant. Stir in 1 and one-half cups water or orange juice; simmer for 15 minutes.

• Kamut (Egyptian wheat). Soak one-half cup overnight in 1 cup of water. Drain, rinse, and put in a small pot with an inch of water. Bring to boil; then reduce to simmer until water is absorbed and grain is tender.

• Polenta (corn mush). Stir one-half cup polenta and one-quarter teaspoon of salt into 2 cups of boiling water. Then cook at a simmer, stirring often, for 30 minutes. Add more water as needed.

Deck them out with spices, herbs, and steamed veggies. Yum!