Week of December 3, 2007
Your Place at the Oldways Table

In the spirit of the holidays, we invite you to take a seat at The Oldways Table, and join us in appreciation of great food and wine. The Oldways Table, published in January of 2007, is part cookbook, part memoir, and part essay collection, all centered on wisdom of traditional foods, upholding culinary traditions, and supporting sustainable agriculture and farming practices. Read more about the much-lauded Oldways Table here.

Also this week, Oldways Founder and President K. Dun Gifford, Founder and President of Oldways, talks about Oldways, The Whole Grains Council and The Oldways Table on Food and Wine Talk, with hosts Carole Kotkin and Simone Diamant. Click here to listen to the interview.

The Latino community suffers disproportionately from type 2 diabetes and research suggests the cause lies somewhere between a mix of genetic predisposition and lifestyle habits. Statistics indicate that a Latino child born today has a 50% chance of developing diabetes in his/her lifetime (1) and that diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death among Hispanics 65 or older (2). After analyzing the feedback received throughout the year, the Oldways and LNC team saw a specific request emerge time and time again - the need for more culturally relevant nutritional information directly related to type 2 diabetes. 2008 will be the year the LNC unveils the new Camino Mágico for Diabetics. A panel of medical doctors, diabetes researchers, culinary advisors, and nutritionists are involved in creating a cohesive and easy-to-understand pamphlet with basic information and recipes that will help type 2 diabetics understand the important role of nutrition in relation to managing diabetes.

In addition to the Camino Mágico for Diabetics, the LNC and Oldways will organize an International Conference in January 2009 to focus on healthy eating and drinking solutions to the Type 2 Diabetes crisis affecting much of the Latino community. The two-part Conference will include a scientists-only Scientific Exchange to update the LNC Scientific Consensus Statement, and a practical Information, Marketing and Media Conference to help health professionals, food and beverage marketing and industry professionals, chefs and cooks, and media understand how best to respond to the Latino diabetes crisis.

Sources:
(1) Joslin Diabetes Center
(2) National Institutes of Health

Week of November 12, 2007
Consumers Respond Strongly to Increased Availability and Variety of Whole Grains

Whole grains are on a roll, concluded the experts at the "Just Ask for Whole Grains" conference held in Kansas City last week, the third such conference organized by Oldways and the Whole Grains Council since 2004. Evidence supporting this unprecedented momentum was presented by national food and nutrition experts, restaurateurs and foodservice professionals. Serving more whole grains was the top change among school foodservice operations this year, with 85.1% reporting an increase, according to the School Nutrition Association's 2007 Trends Report. Restaurants are seeing a big move toward whole grains as well. Conference attendees were amazed to learn that chains P.F. Chang's China Bistro and Pei Wei Asian Diner are on track to serve around 10 million pounds of brown rice in 2007, nearly equal to an estimated 12 million pounds of white rice.




Kansas City's own grocery store shelves also confirmed the power of whole grains momentum as represented by the large "Stamp Power Tower" display, constructed from a selection of products bearing the Whole Grain Stamp. This eye-catching black and gold packaging symbol helps busy consumers spot foods offering at least a half-serving of whole grains. It can now be found on over 1,400 products from the Whole Grains Council's 180 members.

Click here for full details on this important international conference.

Click here to read the full press release.

Week of October 22th, 2007
Eat Pasta on Thursday to Celebrate World Pasta Day

This Thursday, Oct 25, celebrate the 10th Annual World Pasta Day -a day commemorating the delicious and nutritious role pasta and the Mediterranean Diet play in a healthy lifestyle. Oldways, the Harvard School of Public Health and the World Health Organization introduced the Mediterranean Diet in 1993. Scientific literature concludes that traditional diets like the Mediterranean and Latin American diets are the 'gold standard' of healthy eating patterns, and pasta, with its partners on the plate and in the bowl, is a perfect meal for all. Read more about the history of the Mediterranean Diet here.

Week of October 8th, 2007
Miami Now Distributing Camino Mágico

Oldways and the Latino Nutrition Coalition continue to reach into the Hispanic community by partnering to educate consumers on healthier recipes for savory traditional Latin cuisine. Together they will distribute 50,000 Camino Mágico pamphlets at Publix Sabor and select area Miami-Dade Publix stores as a health resource for customers.

From inspiration and planning, to purchasing and preparing foods, this guide provides the Latino Community with key information they need to improve their shopping habits, said Liz Mintz, LNC Director. The LNC launched Camino Mágico, the first comprehensive supermarket-shopping guide targeting the Latino community, in May of 2007. The public's strong interest is evidenced by consumer requests for over 50,000 copies of Camino Mágico. Camino Mágico is available at various supermarkets across the nation. To order a copy or find a store that distributes these, click here.

Week of October 1st, 2007
Oldways Symposium on Resistant Starch in Philadelphia

A recent Oldways symposium for health professionals updated the many new scientific studies supporting the powerful role that resistant starch plays in a healthy eating pattern. The symposium was held Sept. 29, 2007 in conjunction with the American Dietetic Association's annual FNCE conference in Philadelphia. Resistant starch is found naturally in a wide variety of foods, such as rice, potatoes and pasta (especially when these are cooked then eaten cold); under-ripe bananas, beans, whole grains, and many other foods. Resistant starch functions in the body as a dietary fiber, but has broad health benefits even beyond those traditionally found in other fibers. A variety developed in Australia, called Hi-maize® resistant starch, is now available in the US in ingredient form for home and restaurant use, greatly expanding opportunities to include resistant starch in meals and healthy snacks. Similar in appearance to flour, Hi-maize can replace some of the fiber in baked goods, and be hidden in everything from mashed potatoes to smoothies. Its ease of use and neutral taste and texture will make Hi-maize a kitchen staple. As a bonus, it's gluten-free. The detailed presentations made by leading scientists summarized their extensive research results. These studies show that regularly consuming resistant starch assists with calorie reduction and weight control, helps to keep blood sugar and energy on an even keel, and protects colon health. Oldways President Dun Gifford opened the symposium and acted as host, while Oldways Executive Vice President Sara Baer-Sinnott moderated Chef Jim Coleman's demonstration of the simplicity of using Hi-maize resistant starch in simple recipes with great tastes. Guests enjoyed a fabulous meal based on the dishes featured in the cooking demonstration and a meal incorporating 12 grams of resistant starch! If you'd like more information, we urge you to visit our Resistant Starch Page.

Click here for the Oldways news archives

Week of September 20th, 2007
A Celebration of the "Oldways" of eating

Looking for ways to enjoy more love, joy, happiness and love-infused food at the table? Want to feel and feast like a god and goddess and still look and feel healthy? Romancing the Table with Modern Day Goddess Cynthia Daddona, is a celebration of life, love and food. This fun, inspiring, informative show explores key ingredients that nurture and delight the palette, heart and soul. This week Cynthia explores the "oldways" of eating with interviews with K. Dun Gifford, Founder and President of Oldways and Sara Baer-Sinnott, Oldways Exec. VP, who are also authors of The Oldways Table book. Sara and Dun will also share the creation of the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid and its health benefits. Recorded live on Voice America, click here to listen to the hour long interview and discussion.

Week of September 3rd, 2007
Whole Grains Challenge Winners Announced

The "Whole Grains Challenge" National Winners are announced as Whole Grains is celebrated in September. Winners have been chosen in each of ten categories of the Whole Grains Challenge with Grand National Winner being Virginia Tech Dining Services D2 of Blacksburg, VA. This school ran "Whole Grain Boot Camp" in June and July, with two dozen daily whole grains choices, special table cards and posters promoting whole grains, and a bicycle raffled off to one of the many students who submitted whole grain feedback cards. A complete list of the winners may be viewed here.

A raft of other activities and programs from the Whole Grains Council (WGC) and its members will help celebrate the first-ever Whole Grains Month. During September, the WGC will launch a total makeover of its informative website at wholegrainscouncil.org, and will bring its educational programs to 12,000 dietitians at the American Dietetic Association's annual convention in Philadelphia. More informations on events, coupons and celebrations in the name of whole grains can be found on our website www.wholegrainscouncil.org.

Week of August 22, 2007
The Oldways team is growing!

We are pleased to introduce to you to our expanded staff. All are interesting, qualified, and passionate about eating wisely. With all these engaging and hard working people on hand, Oldways continues to advocate for positive change in a variety of areas--the Latino Nutrition Coalition year-long launch of Camino Magico has met with astounding success, the Whole Grains Council continues to lead the nation in public education on healthier eating and the Med Mark gathers more industry support every day.

The Oldways website has also grown with new pages to help you find more information about healthy eating and living. In our Press Room, listen to a variety of radio programs featuring the Oldways staff interviewed on topics ranging from the benefits of whole grains to the recipes from The Oldways Table: http://oldwayspt.org/radio/html.

The website also has a links page in addition to its' sponsors and supporters page. The links page has a number of websites that we here at Oldways have found useful and interesting over the years, and hope you do too!

Week of August 6, 2007
Super Quick, Always Delicious--Whole Grain Breakfast Ideas

Going to work (or even back to school) in the summer months can be difficult. Make those mornings a little bit easier with some time-saving, familiy-friendly breakfast ideas.

* Whole grain waffles, pancakes, and French toast are now in your grocer's freezer. Instant tastiness! On weekends, you can make these favorites from whole grain mixes--kids always love pancakes dribbled on the griddle in shapes.
* Whole grain cinnamon toast with peanut butter is fast but filling and sticks to your ribs.
* Every kind of oatmeal is whole grain--even instant. Add some colorful, fresh summer berries for natural sweetness.
*A huge variety of cold cereals offer half a serving or more of whole grain. And most kids will eat cold cereals any time of day.

We have even more meal options to enjoy. For the top ten whole grain lunch ideas, click here.

Week of June 25, 2007
Join Oldways as we celebrate the Mediterranean diet in NYC
Oldways travels to the Big Apple on Sunday to attend the Fancy Food Show at the Javits Center and to give a seminar on the Mediterranean Diet.

The international section of this specialty food show is always a much appreciated treat, laden with many fine ingredients produced in the 'old ways' such as olive oil, preserves, cheese, and other traditional Mediterranean fare. This year's visit is extra special as our friends in Foggia, Italy have a booth that will feature educational seminars every day. These tastings range from "Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Lab - The perfect dressing, with its unmistakable taste, from the squeezing of Peranzana, Coratina, and Ogliarola olives" to "Informed Consumers Lab - Get to know Italy's typical and genuine best products."

Here you may taste and learn about the foods of Foggia with in-depth seminars, product tastings, and Mediterranean Diet experts on site. The Foggia seminars, while free, do require reservations. Email Courtney Davis for the programming schedule and to confirm space availablity. We hope to see you there!

Week of June 18, 2007
Whole Grains On a Menu Near You!
The Whole Grains Council has added some new restaurants to our list of establishments offering at least one whole grain dish on their menu. Check out our WG Restaurant List to find a healthy dining option in your neck of the woods.

Got a favorite restaurant that serves whole grains? Let us know - and let them know that you appreciate their whole grain efforts by filling out a Whole Grains Report Card. You can win prizes, and the restaurant can, too! Just one more reason to Just Ask for Whole Grains.

Or... cook up some whole grains in your own kitchen with some inspiration from the Oldways Table, or a recipe from some of our stellar culinary advisors: Chefs Ana Sortun, Lorna Sass, or Jesse Cool.

Tasty NPR Tidbits
In the past few weeks, Oldways has been featured on two of our favorite nationally syndicated NPR programs.

Liz Mintz, Program Manager of the Latino Nutrition Coalition, sat down recently with Evan Kleiman on her Good Food radio show. In this podcast, Liz talks about the impact of diabetes on the Latino community and what the LNC is doing about it.

And in this podcast from Jim Coleman's show "A Chef's Table," explore two seemingly opposed forces in the food world: high tech and the old ways. Hear authors Sara and Dun tell stories from their new book, The Oldways Table.

Week of June 11, 2007
Oldways on the Airwaves
Oldways has been heating up the airwaves lately, talking about good food and the tastiness of nutrition. Barbra Alexander recently sat down for a chat with Sara and Dun on Health Radio. They talk about how easy, natural, and delicious it is to follow the Mediterranean pattern of eating. You can listen here.

Speaking of lovely Mediterranean foods, our trip to Puglia was a very tasty reminder of how following the Med Diet can be oh so delicious and unbelievably healthy at the same time.

Week of June 4, 2007
The Med Mark - Now Launched

This week Oldways launches the Med Mark - a brand new packaging symbol designed to help shoppers quickly identify healthy Mediterranean Diet food, drinks, and products. The postage-stamp-sized symbol features a dramatic image of an amphora, the pottery jug used for 3,000 years by all Mediterranean cultures to store and ship their foods and drinks.

The Med Mark is the third element of a new consumer shopping-assistance program, joining our Whole Grains Stamp, and Camino Mágico supermarket guide. All three of these programs are meant to help consumers make healthy eating decisions, and are part of Oldways' goal to translate the complex details of nutrition science into the familiar language of food.

This summer, look for the Med Mark on healthy, delicious foods near you!

Learn more about the healthy eating pattern that inspired the Med Mark.

Week of May 28, 2007
Taste of Puglia
From June 5-9, 2007, we will be traveling to Puglia, Italy, to learn more about the amazing artisanal foods and wines of this region. A group of retailers, importers, and buyers of traditional foods will cover four of Puglia's provinces - Bari, Foggia, Brindisi, and Lecce - to learn, explore, and eat! We will focus on regional olive oils, check out local vineyards, and sample the seasonal specialties of these areas that are at the heart of the Mediterranean Diet.
You can read more about the Mediterranean Diet, the wonders of olive oil, and the gastronomic delights of Italy in The Oldways Table. Check out Chapter 5 for tips on choosing an olive oil.

Week of May 21, 2007
Win the Whole Grains Challenge! In May, June, and July 2007 the Whole Grains Council is running The Whole Grains Challenge - an awards program for restaurants and foodservice operations. We are challenging every school cafeteria, hospital, fine dining, and quick service restaurant to offer at least one whole grain choice on its menu every day. Winners will be announced in September, to celebrate Whole Grains Month.
Eat at restaurants that serve whole grains! Check out our list of restaurants that offer whole grains to find a healthy choice near you.
You can read more about the Challenge and whole grains in restaurants in the cover story of this month's issue of Today's Dietitian.



Week of May 14, 2007
Oldways Event at Harvard Club
This week, the Downtown Harvard Club hosted an evening to celebrate The Oldways Table. Celebrity Chef Barbara Lynch and Wine Director Cat Silirie from the award winning No. 9 Park restaurant wined and dined us while Sara Baer-Sinnott and Harvard Alum Dun Gifford shared anecdotes from the book. It was a beautiful night of food, wine, and story-telling.



Read more about the amazing talents of Barbara and Cat, or better yet, go taste for yourself! (p.s. We didn't let you all know about this event ahead of time because it was for Harvard members only - lucky ducks!) For upcoming Oldways events, check out our calendar. And for more information on the recipes that inspired the dishes for this event, flip through The Oldways Table.

The Oldways Table on The Splendid Table
Lynne Kasper chats with Sara Baer-Sinnott on her show The Splendid Table. Sara shares a perfect spring recipe for fresh fava bean soup - get the podcast here.


Week of May 7, 2007
Camino Mágico Launch Update
The Houston launch of Camino Mágico was an incredible success. National media, local community leaders, and of course savvy shoppers were treated to healthy snacks and good nutrition and shopping advice. To read more about the May 1st event, click here. For some ideas for healthy Latino recipes try Arroz con Pollo, or a Tomato-Poblano Soup, or check out more recipes here.

Week of April 23, 2007
Camino Mágico Launch in Houston
The Latino Nutrition Coalition will launch the first supermarket guide targeted to the Latino community. Camino Mágico, which details the road to a healthier lifestyle through following traditional Latino eating patterns, is being distributed in Fiesta Supermarkets in Houston with future launches planned nationwide.


Oldways Newsletter
The Oldways Newsletter is here. Brimming with photos from our recent travels, and full of information on our plans for the not-too-distant future, the Oldways Newsletter is a great source of information on all of the exciting programs we are working on: The Oldways Table, Latino Nutrition Coalition, and Taste of Puglia, oh my!


We need more whole grains!
Hot on the heels of a study showing the cholesterol-cutting benefits of whole oats, FoodNavigator published the results of another meta-analysis reaffirming the goodness of grains, and calling for policy-makers to "redouble their efforts to incorporate clear messages on the beneficial effects of whole grains into public health and clinical practice endeavors." Read the article here.


Week of April 16, 2007
Mediterranean Diet in the Headlines (again!)
A recent study of children in Crete shows that the Mediterranean Diet protects against allergies and asthma. This is just one more proven benefit of this tasty and nutritious way of eating. Oldways created the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid in 1993 with the WHO and the Harvard School of Public Health and it is still considered the 'gold standard' of eating.


Week of April 9, 2007
"How Eating Has Changed" Podcast
Mike Carruthers interviews Dun about changes in eating patterns since WWII. Cravings, 'good fats' and the Mediterranean Diet are covered in this "Something You Should Know" radio broadcast. Listen here, or read a brief summary here. To learn more about the Mediterranean Diet, click here.

Week of April 2, 2007
Dun Gifford is On the Air and "On the Menu"
Dun talks about the Oldways Table with Ann and Peter Haigh on 1550AM. On the Menu is "an exciting weekly, one-hour program on the wide world of food, wine, travel and lifestyle." To hear Dun dish, click here.


Just Ask Update
No April Fools' jokes here! Consumers everywhere are Just Asking for whole grains and the response has been overwhelming. Take a look at a sample of who's Asking here. The campaign continues; keep asking for whole grains everywhere you eat!

Week of March 26, 2007
Boston Event Wednesday, March 28th
Setting The Oldways Table: Eight Food Experts Discuss "The Perfect Meal"
6-7:30pm Panel Discussion at Brattle Theater - Chefs Steve Johnson and Marian Morash, Restaurateur Sari Abul-Jubein, Harvard Professors Frank Sacks and Hannia Campos, Oldways' Dun Gifford and Sara Baer-Sinnott, and Yankee Food Editor Annie Copps will discuss what they eat and drink in the context of the 'perfect' Oldways meal: taste and pleasure, nutrition and health, organics and sustainability.

7:30-9pm Reception with Panelists at Casablanca Restaurant - Tickets for the Brattle Theatre and Casablanca Reception are $55 and include reserved, priority seating at the Brattle Theater, a copy of The Oldways Table, traditional nibbles from The Oldways Table, and one drink ticket. If you have already purchased a copy of The Oldways Table, Harvard Book Store will credit you the cost ($32.50) towards the purchase of another book. Tickets for the Brattle Theater discussion only (no reception) are $3.

Whole Grains Podcast
Dun Gifford takes some of the mystery out of whole grains, explaining their health benefits and giving us a few ideas on how to incorporate them into our favorite meals for a healthy boost. Dun interviews with Evan Kleiman on Southern California's leading National Public Radio affiliate KCRW's "Good Food."

Week of March 12, 2007
The Good Life is featuring a wonderful interview with Sara Baer-Sinnott this week. Sara talks with Guy Bower from Newsradio 1330 about how Oldways got started, our new book The Oldways Table, and our recent launch of the Just Ask Campaign. View our transcript of the podcast here.

Week of February 25, 2007

Book Signing and Cooking Demo at Borders
Don't forget! Oldways is having a book signing and cooking demonstration Wednesday, March 7 at Borders in Boston to celebrate The Oldways Table. Chef Paul O'Connell from Chez Henri will be our special guest, and Sara and Dun will talk about their groundbreaking work in the food and nutrition world. 7:00pm at Borders at 511 Boylston Street. Come and join us for this free event! See the events page for all the details.

Americans "Just Ask" for Whole Grains!
Oldways and the Whole Grains Council are launching an exciting grassroots campaign to bring at least one whole grain choice to every menu in America - that means every restaurant, mess hall, school lunch room, and hospital cafeteria across the country. If enough of us make our voices heard and "Just Ask for Whole Grains" we can send a message loud and clear.

On the Just Ask website consumers can fill out restaurant report cards and enter for prizes. There are also awards for restaurants to reward them for stepping up to the plate and making healthy whole grains available.

Week of February 19, 2007
Christian Science Monitor / Whole Grains Podcast
We were excited to have the Oldways Table featured in the Christian Science Monitor. They recommend that you "Eat this book" in their Monitor Picks.

Dun chats about the many reasons to eat whole grains - for both your body and your mind - in this hour-long podcast from the archives Whole Grains... Good for the Brain.

Week of February 12, 2007
Oldways Site Updates
We have just finished making several upgrades to our website! You can now use your RSS feed aggregator to subscribe to our feed, which is located here, to stay up-to-date on breaking news. In addition to the RSS feed, the Oldways website has a number of other exciting updates, although the site's look and feel remain the same. You will find answers to the Top Ten Oldways FAQ in The Oldways Story , resources such as information on our children's health initiative High-Five! for media, nutrition professionals, and consumers, and information on Hot Topics including Managing Sweetness.

Week of February 5, 2007
Book Signing in Boston
Just announced -- we will be hosting a book signing and discussion at Borders bookstore on Boylston Street, Wednesday, March 7th, 2007 at 7 p.m. For more information, check out our calendar.

Week of January 29, 2007
Whole Grain Stamp Milestone
The Whole Grain Stamp, the eye-catching black and gold symbol that helps consumers quickly and easily find whole grain products, is now on over 1,000 food packages. To see a list of products that bear the Whole Grain Stamp, click here, or click here to download the press release (PDF).

Week of January 22, 2007
Olivita Update
Our recent trip to Puglia has been covered by some wonderful food blogs: 101 Cookbooks, The Food Section, Delicious Days, The Tasting Menu, and Harris Salat's "He Ate Well" highlight some of the delicious food that we tasted, and include gorgeous photos. To read more about the Olivita conference, click here.

Week of January 15, 2007
Trans Fat Ban?
Still wondering what the whole story is on trans fats? Download the press release about Dun's longstanding opposition to these harmful fatty acids. To check out the rest of our press releases, click here.

Week of January 8, 2007
Dun on WDNA
Want to learn about Italian gourmet foods? Dun's interview with Carole Kotkin and Simone Diament is a great place to start: they introduce us to Lombardy, the amazing gastronomic region that produces Franciacorta wine and Grana Padano cheese. Visit the Food and Wine Talk archives to listen to the December 18th interview.

Week of January 1, 2007
Just Published!

New book by Oldways now available! Read more about The Oldways Table or order it online.