A public health program must choose between stocking low-cost enriched white bread and a slightly more expensive whole grain loaf to improve population fiber and nutrient intake. Which evaluative recommendation best balances cost, nutrient impact, and feasibility?

• A. Select the cheapest refined grain available regardless of enrichment status because calories are the primary public health concern and fiber and micronutrient differences are irrelevant to population health planning.
• B. Always choose enriched white bread because enrichment restores every nutrient lost in milling and therefore offers identical health outcomes to whole grains while being cheaper and more shelf-stable, making it the best public health choice in all contexts.
• C. Prioritize whole grain loafes where budget and supply chains allow because they provide more fiber and a wider nutrient/phytochemical profile; when cost is prohibitive, enriched white bread can serve as an interim option to provide some lost vitamins but should be paired with other whole-food strategies (e.g., legumes, vegetables) to boost fiber intake.
• D. Only provide fortified instant cereals with added micronutrients and ignore bread choices, because fortified cereals automatically fix both fiber and micronutrient deficiencies better than any whole-grain approach.

Answer: (C)