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Join the Celebration: Delicious and Nutritious Whole Grain Samples
Offered Nationwide

BOSTON, February, 2014 – Whole grain consumption jumped 23% from 2008 to 2010, as more people discovered the many delicious whole grain options available in restaurants and on grocery shelves. Isn’t it time for you to explore whole grain fare, from whole wheat bread and oatmeal to farro risotto, quinoa salad or a nutty brown and black rice fusion?  Whole Grain Sampling Day on Wednesday, April 2, 2014 is your chance, when restaurants, supermarkets, cafeterias and even food trucks across the nation are offering a multitude of special promotions and low-cost or no cost whole grain items all on a single day.

Organized by Boston-based non-profit Oldways and its Whole Grains Council (WGC), last year’s celebration (see our video) prompted millions of Americans to taste a whole lot of delicious, healthy whole grains and the momentum continues for this 3rd annual event in 2014.

“Most people only need to try a new whole grain to realize they like it,” said Cynthia Harriman, Director of Food and Nutrition Strategies for the Whole Grains Council and Oldways.  “The best way to increase whole grain consumption and nudge people to better health is to help everyone sample more whole grains.  This Whole Grain Sampling Day there will be plenty of places to explore new whole grains including leading supermarkets, national restaurants like California Pizza Kitchen, Dunkin Donuts, and McDonald’s, and even the cafeterias of Google.”

Studies show that switching to whole grains lowers the risk of many chronic diseases. While benefits are most pronounced for those consuming at least 3 servings daily, some studies show reduced risks from as little as one serving daily – so every whole grain in the diet helps.

Partners for 2014 include include workplace foodservice (Google, Compass USA), restaurants (California Pizza Kitchen, Dunkin Donuts, Genghis Grill, McDonald’s, Rubio’s Restaurants), food trucks (Bon Me and Clover in Boston), organizations (American Institute for Cancer Research, Healthy Dining Finder, National Restaurant Association), vending machines (h.u.m.a.n. Healthy Vending) and manufacturers (Barilla, Freekehlicious, Lotus Foods, Roman Meal, Sun Valley, Sunnyland Mills); more partners are coming on board daily. 

To take advantage of one of these special promotions and sampling events, visit the Whole Grain Sampling Day page of the WGC website where all activities and opportunities are being listed, as partners provide specifics.

To round out the daylong celebration, Whole Grain Ambassadors, across the United States, will be blogging and keeping the party going online. Ambassadors will spend Sampling Day sharing tips, recipes, and conducting whole grain giveaways to help get others on the whole grain train!

Everyone is encouraged to join in the whole grain conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #SampleWholeGrains.

About Oldways and the Whole Grains Council
Oldways is a nonprofit food and nutrition education organization, with a mission to guide people to good health through heritage, using practical and positive programs grounded in science and tradition.  The Whole Grains Council (WGC), an Oldways program, has been working since 2003 to increase consumption of whole grains for better health, and in 2005 introduced the Whole Grain Stamp, now used on more than 9,200 products in 41 countries. The WGC’s many initiatives help consumers to find whole grain foods and understand their health benefits; help manufacturers and restaurants to create delicious whole grain foods; and help the media to write accurate, compelling stories about whole grains.  You can learn more about both at http://www.oldwayspt.org and http://www.wholegrainscouncil.org.