Look Who's Asking for Whole Grains

Here's a taste of the whole grains buzz that's happening across the country.

• Consumers are looking for whole grains – and finding more and more of them – in restaurants.

• Schools, health professionals and community groups are giving away "Just Ask" buttons as they promote the great taste and health benefits of whole grains.

Consumers Ask... and Restaurants say YES

Each week this local cafe serves us a whole grain based salad. The Quinoa Shrimp salad is terrific--in addition to the quinoa and shrimp, it has zucchini, onion and fresh limes to squeeze on top. It sells out every day!
Piperade Cafe, San Francisco (from Rachel H.)

I decided to ask for a healthier dinner. It was supposed to have white rice but I asked if they had anything better in the back they could throw in for me and it turns out they had brown rice and quinoa!
Applebee's, Portage, MI (from Kathleen K.)

I asked for and got whole wheat pasta at a local restaurant. They said that they are getting more and more requests for whole grains.
Pasta Pronto, Del Mar, CA (from Mike O.)

This is a great eatery/health food store with great options for whole grain foods, including pasta. They have it all. They prepare great tasting food at reasonable prices.
Well Body, Lubbock TX (from Tyler Y.)

Souen always offers whole grains on their menu, and they are usually presented as a mixture. The last time I was there I had brown Basmati, bulgur, and short grain brown rice - great texture. My husband had brown rice in his sushi.
Souen, NYC, NY (from Megan T.)

Click here to see MORE stories about whole grains in restaurants...

Whole Grain events held coast to coast

I am teaching parents and grandparents about the value of whole grains, as part of Penn State’s Extension programs. I will ask them to wear their buttons when they take their children out to eat. This would be a terrific and fun family project for the kids to be involved in. They could leave report cards and tell the class of their findings. The children can give their teachers and/or classmates buttons as an addition to a special report on healthy eating.
(Leslie M., Philadelphia)

I am a second year medical student at the Medical University of South Carolina. The Student National Medical Association is holding a bone marrow drive and health fair at a local mall, and we'd like to give away buttons to promote whole grains.
(Rashim G., Mt. Pleasant, S.C.)

I am on the wellness committee at a two-way Spanish immersion public school in Arlington, Virginia. We are working on trying to increase the consumption of whole grains among students, families and faculty. I would love to hand out the Just Ask buttons in the school to help promote this effort.
Stacey E., Arlington, VA

I work at the Nevada State Veterans Home in Boulder City. For National Nutrition Month, I am running a booth in the front lobby of the hospital. Each week is a different theme about no fad diets. I am planning on using the topic of whole grains one week to educate people on the importance of choosing whole grain products. I would love to have some buttons to hand out at the booth!
Jennifer T., Boulder City, NV

Stanford University (student health services and Stanford Dining) for National Nutrition Month [decided to promote] whole grains as part of a nutrition education campaign to our 6,000 undergraduates. It was a very successful week for the whole grains exhibit - the students showed interest in why they should increase their whole grains intake and they were surprised at the ways they can add whole grains from the selection in the dining halls (they just had to look a bit more closely for the brown rice, ww bread and oats).
Vivian C., Palo Alto, CA

Click here to see MORE stories about events promoting whole grains...