Just Ask Prizes and Winners

Each month during 2007 we picked a winner from the hundreds of visitors to our website who reported finding whole grains in their local restaurants. The contest is over now, but you can still report your favorite restaurants, to help others find whole grains.

Prizes for our Winning Diners in 2007

Each monthly winner of the 2007 "Just Ask for Whole Grains" sweepstakes received – what else? – an assortment of delicious whole grain products. (Selection will vary from those illustrated here.)

Prizes included:

• Heartland Granola

• Lotus Forbidden Rice

• Peanut-free, organic cookies from Gak's Snacks

• Cracker sampler box from Dr. Kracker

• Gift assortment of Rubschlager Breads

• Success Brown Rice

• Multigrain Royal Blends, orzo and couscous from Rice Select

• Nature's Path "Munch Money" vouchers valid for any product

• Amaranth Cinnamon Snaps from Nu-World Foods

• Arrowhead Mills Multigrain Pancake & Waffle Mix and Arrowhead Mills Organic Stone-Ground Whole Wheat Flour

In addition, some of the restaurants received:

• From Indian Harvest Specialtifoods: A 24-lb assortment of whole grain blends: 8 lbs each of "Whole Grain 5 Blend," "Black Pearl Medley" and "Whole Grain Jasmine Blend"

• From Sunnyland Mills: a 25 pound bag of Organic Bulgur Wheat or a 25 pound bag of Organic Kamut Bulgur

November Winner

November winner Deacon M. of Washington, DC tells us, " I've been on a whole grain kick for several years and have become quite the pest in restaurants that haven't gotten the message yet." Here's his story:

October Winner

Our October winner was Roseanne M of Rockford, IL who praised her favorite local bakery and sandwich shop:

Mary's Market is locally owned. The owner's father had experienced a heart attack over 25 years ago. He then instituted heart healthy foods to his menu. He has huge baskets of whole grain breads to purchase over the counter and one of the favorite sandwichs for decades has been the vegetarian stack. Whole grain bread with 7 kinds of raw vegetables, havarti cheese and a dill spread.

September Winner

Our September winner was Kim G., a community health worker in Harrison, Arkansas, who is helping schools in her area introduce kids and their parents to tasty whole grain choices:

Balance It Out: Arkansas is a health incentive in the Harrison School District. As a kick-off activity for our program, we had a family swim night with healthy foods. We served Whole Wheat Hot Dog Buns with Turkey Franks, baked chips, carrots, celery and pretzels. All of the feedback was very positive and several comments were made about how wonderful the buns were. These were people who would have never dared to try a Whole Wheat Hot Dog bun. They have now been introduced to the wonderful world of whole grain and a healthier lifestyle.

August Winner

Our August winner was Kathleen A. of Sylvania, Ohio, one of the many, many diners around the country who have written to us raving about the many whole grain options at Panera Bread.

I wanted a healthy lunch – a sandwich and soup. One of the nicest things about Panera Bread is they let me choose the bread on the sandwich. I chose stone ground wheat bread and was very pleased to eat a delicious tasting bread as well as knowing I am doing something good for my body. Glad that Panera offers these better breads.

July Winner

Our July winner was Karla C., a culinary student from Hyde Park, NY, who gives us hope that the next generation of chefs will understand about the important of whole grain choices:

I was so hungry for a nutritous and filling lunch that I stopped by the Oak Room at the Fairmont Copley Plaza one day after I did some shopping in downtown Boston. Their menu offered me just what I wanted: a BLT on whole wheat bread. I was thrilled because I watch my diet closely, and incorporate whole foods in my regime in hopes of maintaining good health. Thanks Oak Room for helping me meet my needs.

June Winner

Our June winner was Sue R. from Clymer, NY who wrote about her experience in school foodservice:

Getting our students at Clymer Central School to eat a whole grain bread was a challenge. I have purchased whole grain white bread from my supplier for the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches we serve every day, and the children love it. They think they are getting plain old white bread, but they are really getting the benefits of the whole grain. I am slowly introducing the whole grains into our other menu items also. All of our 6 inch subs made for the high school are made on whole grain sub buns.

May Winner

Our May winner was Heather G. from Fairport, NY who wrote about a favorite independent restaurant:

The Oriental Wok restaurant in Ft Mitchell, KY is an upscale Chinese Restaurant owned by Mike and Helen Wong. A few years ago, their daughters suggested adding a brown rice option for the menu. Mike Wong, who immigrated to the US in 1972, was resistant at first because in China, brown rice is considered "inferior," and he prides himself in only serving high quality food. The daughters prevailed, convincing him that these days people realize brown rice is nutritionally superior, and you can now choose between brown and white rice.

April Winner

Our April winner was Rhonda R. from Elk Grove Village, IL who wrote about the food served at her workplace:

Alexian Cafe is my employers' cafeteria. They try to include couscous, brown rice, and whole wheat breads. We would like to see more whole grains served! During National Nutrition Month, we had whole wheat wraps - wonderful!!

March Winner

Our March winner was CathyAnn R. from College Station, TX who wrote about a pleasant surprise at a national chain restaurant:

I have been on the South Beach diet and I was a bit hesitant when my fiance wanted to go pig out at the Olive Garden, but I love eating there so we went. The menu is full of pastas and free breadsticks! I love the chicken parmesan so I decided it would still be a decent choice. Then I looked at the very bottom of the menu and saw you can substitute whole grain pasta for regular pasta, so I did. When I tried the pasta with the marinara sauce, I was pleasantly surprised that the dish was still delicious and way more healthy with the substitution.

Our contest is over, but you can still win better health!

Here are three ways you can win with whole grains:

• Report your favorite restaurant that serves whole grains, to help others find them.

• Leave a message behind at each restaurant you visit, with our Whole Grain Report Cards. (Click here to download.)

• Visit restaurants on our Restaurant List.