The Whole Grains Council Announces Winners of Whole Grains Sweepstakes
In Celebration of Whole Grains Month
BOSTON, October 11, 2011 – September was the month to “get with the grain” as nationwide, thousands celebrated Whole Grains Month and joined in the Whole Grains Stampede. To cap off the celebration, Oldways and its Whole Grains Council (WGC) are pleased to announce that Vicki Burt of Shamokin, PA is the lucky 1st prize winner of the Whole Grains Stampede sweepstakes. Ms. Burt, a retired probation officer who takes in foster children, says she’ll make good use of her prize: a year’s worth of Quaker products (a whole lotta whole grains) plus $5,000 to spend on groceries, all courtesy of the Quaker Oats Company.
Whole Grains Stampede winner Vicki Burt and her family
celebrate with some of their favorite whole grain foods!
The Stampede ran throughout the month of September and offered an opportunity for consumers to get excited about whole grains and share the names of their favorite products bearing the ubiquitous black-and-gold Whole Grain Stamp for a chance to win. In addition to the 1st prize winner, Diane Kleeman of Rockford, IL won an iPad2, courtesy of Ultragrain from ConAgra Mills, and the first 300 people who entered received discount coupons for delicious whole grain products from more than a dozen different companies.
“Whole Grains Month and our Stampede attracted many thousands of people from across the country and proved to be a great success by getting folks eating more whole grains and looking for them in every grocery store aisle,” said Cynthia Harriman, Director of Food and Nutrition Strategies for the Whole Grains Council and Oldways. “This September was fun, filled with whole grain goodness and we can’t wait until next year to celebrate again!”Vicki Burt named Total cereal, Mission Foods Multigrain Wraps, and Mueller’s Pasta as some of her favorite Whole Grain Stamp’ed foods, while Diane Kleeman is a big fan of oatmeal topped with bananas and almonds. Overall, the most popular whole grain products named by consumers entering the Sweepstakes included oatmeal, cold cereal, whole grain bread, brown rice, whole grain pasta, ready-made entrees, crackers, popcorn, granola bars and corn chips.
Studies show that eating whole grains lowers the risk of many chronic diseases, including heart disease and diabetes, with some studies showing reduced risks from as little as one serving daily. Other benefits include reduced risk of asthma, healthier blood pressure levels, and better weight control.
Along with $5,000 toward grocery purchases, Ms. Burt will receive a quarterly delivery of each of the following: 12 boxes of Quaker Chewy Granola Bars; 6 boxes of Quaker Oatmeal Squares Cereal; 3 boxes of Instant Quaker Oatmeal; and 3 boxes of Old Fashioned Quaker Oatmeal.
In addition to the top winners above, the first 300 people to enter received a selection of great discount coupons, for products from WGC member companies including: American Italian Pasta Co, Attune Foods, ConAgra Mills, Crunchmaster / TH Foods, Dr. Kracker, Flowers Foods, Frontier Soup, Grain Millers / Country Choice, Heinz, HomeFree Treats, King Arthur Flour Company, Late Jul Organic Snacks, Lundberg Family Farms, Marion’s Smart Delights, Mars Foods / Uncle Ben’s, Mary’s Gone Crackers, McDonald’s, Old Wessex, Ozery’s Pita Break, Pamela’s Products, and Peace Cereals.
For more information about the Whole Grains Stampede, and to stay tuned for next year’s Whole Grains Month events please visit: http://wholegrainscouncil.org
Please contact Rachel Greenstein (rachel@oldwayspt.org or 617-896-4888) for more information, including hi-res graphics, interviews with WGC and Oldways program managers, or recipes.