What's a good substitute for wheat berries?!
Answers: experiment with other grains. corn meal, whole oats, barley, quinua. even perhaps peas or soy beans. black beans would make an interesting contrast.
I would probably go with millet. I think millet and lentils together are a nice texture. :) You could also try kasha (roasted buckwheat) as an alternative. Definitely depends on your flavor/texture preferences.
Try adding garbanzo beans or cannellini beans (which are like a "white northern bean") If not using dried beans...add canned beans towards the end of the cooking time, other wise they will cook to mush.
Barley can be a good substitute with lentils.
As a substitute for wheat berries, I would use rye (or millet)
If you are using it in a soup, rye will act most like wheat, as far as cooking time goes. Millet will cook faster.