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When there's Big News in the Whole Grains Council, we send out a press release and post it in the press release section of this website. But every day, the momentum of whole grains moves forward in many smaller ways, which you can read about here. Come back often, and see what's new, or subscribe with our RSS feed.

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Beijing Blog #2 – Finding Whole Grains

April 21, 2011

A disclaimer at the start of this blog: I did not spend all of my time in Beijing poking into stores and looking for whole grains. I visited wonderful sights including the Summer Palace, Yonghe Temple, Zhongshan Park, the Houhai lakes area and of course the Great Wall, during our recent trip to China.

But yeah, I really do like to check up on the whole grain scene wherever I go, and I promised you more details in my first Beijing blog. Here’s what I found once I actually hit the streets.

Beijing Blog #1: What’s Up with Whole Grains?

April 15, 2011

This is the first of a few blogs we’ll be writing from Beijing, reporting on the whole grain scene here. Kara and I have arrived a few days early, to get our jetlag behind us before we participate in a Whole Grain Forum next week. In the meantime, I’m looking for clues everywhere, to learn whether whole grains have any foothold yet in China.

New Lapel Pin Supports Whole Grains

April 12, 2011

Whole grains are the new norm worldwide, and you can help move the momentum forward by purchasing our new Look For Whole Grain lapel pin, available only from Oldways and the Whole Grains Council.

This attractive lapel pin features cloisonné enamel and gold-tone metal in the familiar design of the Whole Grain Stamp. Measuring 1" tall by 3/4" wide, the pin has a secure butterfly clasp on the back, to attach to any cloth surface.

It's perfect for Registered Dietitians, doctors, or other health professionals who want to remind their clients and patients of the importance of whole grains, during office visits. It also makes a great prize when you're holding events and health fairs.

You may simply want one because you're personally big on whole grains, and want to show your support for the Whole Grains Council and its work.

Whole Grains Gaining in Quick Serve Restaurants

March 28, 2011

I really enjoy cooking and usually bring leftovers to work for lunch, so fast food isn’t really on my radar most days. Last week it was road trip time, however, as we headed from New Hampshire to New Jersey to visit family. On the turnpike, home cooking wasn’t an option, so off we headed to the food court at the nearest service plaza when our gas tank and our stomachs both hit empty at the same time.

Driving south we chose to eat at Fresh City, a New England chain with a dozen Massachusetts locations plus one each in Connecticut and New Hampshire. “Naturally raised meat, poultry and seafood… hand-picked produce, cut fresh daily… organic ingredients, wherever possible.” It’s refreshing to see the improvements in fast food options these days.

Expo West Wrap-Up, Part Two

March 24, 2011

In which we focus on all the many ways WGC Members are rockin’ the world of whole grains.

In my post yesterday, I asked if you’ve ever wondered what donuts, baby food, and on-the-go granola have in common. By now we know all three are opportunities to increase whole grain consumption, and we know how that delightful donut fits into things. If you’re wondering about the baby food and the granola, well, let’s start our exploration, shall we?

Expo West Wrap-Up, Part One

March 23, 2011

In which we focus on the Healthy Baking Seminar, as seen through the center of a donut.

Ever wondered what donuts, baby food, and on-the-go granola have in common? If you guessed all three are opportunities to increase whole grain consumption, you'd be correct - and you probably joined me in Anaheim, CA earlier this month. In addition to serving as a round-robin moderator during the Health Baking Seminar, I once again represented Oldways and the WGC while walking the floor of Natural Products Expo West, one of the food world's biggest events.

Industry Gears Up for School Lunch Changes

March 16, 2011

Last week I attended a meeting of the School Food Industry Roundtable in Washington, DC, where I presented information on changes in whole grain requirements being proposed for the U.S. National School Lunch Program. I spoke briefly, I listened for three hours – and I went away with three conclusions: (1) It’s a monumental task to write federal regulations; (2) It’s an equally daunting task for companies to reformulate products; and (3) We’ve got to do this for the kids.

“What Is She Eating?” Wednesday

March 9, 2011

I know, it’s been ages since I shared my last food adventure with you, but this one is definitely worth sharing! You might be wondering where this blog series went, whether I stopped eating whole grains or *gasp* stopped eating all together. No no, nothing like that, but I definitely wasn’t eating anything exciting. In fact, I’d fallen into yet another food rut, resorting to the same simple weekday lunches, day after day. And I’m not even going to tell you what I’ve been eating – believe me, it’s just too boring to tell.

So what’s shook me up and broke me out of my food blah? Well, I don’t recommend this for the average person, but it certainly worked for me…

Whole Grains: Eating is Believing

March 2, 2011

Here at Oldways and the Whole Grains Council, food is central to everything we do, and nowhere is that more evident than at conferences.

We know that we can talk about how healthy food can be delicious – and how delicious food can be healthy – until we're blue in the face, but the light bulbs only go off when people actually taste healthy food, lovingly prepared. Then, they say, "Well, sure. Who wouldn't want to eat like this?

So part of our formula for a successful conference is:

Conference Materials Now on WGC Website

February 25, 2011

In our three previous blogs I shared some of the highlights of our recent Whole Grains: the New Norm conference (February 10 and February 6) and Kara detailed how some of our conference topics tied in to other current events (February 18). In our final post-conference blog, we’d like to tell you about some of the great conference materials available here on the WGC website.

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