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Grilled Ratatouille Quinoa Takes Top Prize

BOSTON, October 14, 2014 – People across the country voted with their taste buds in the Make the Switch Contest, organized by Oldways and its Whole Grains Council (WGC). The recipe contest, held to celebrate Whole Grains Month in September, demonstrated that moving from refined grains to whole grains is easy – and palate pleasing.

Throughout the month, voters cast their ballots for their favorites of 16 recipes contributed by popular bloggers and dietitians across the country. The top five recipes were entered into a cook-off judged by Cynthia Harriman, director of food and nutrition strategies, Whole Grains Council and Oldways, Kyle Potvin, Oldways media strategist, and three celebrity judges:

  • Mary Ann Esposito, creator and host of the nationally televised PBS series, Ciao Italia with Mary Ann Esposito™
  • Maria Speck, author of the award-winning cookbook, Ancient Grains for Modern Meals (Ten Speed Press) and a Whole Grains Council culinary advisor
  • Janice Newell Bissex, one of The Meal Makeover Moms and Oldways consulting registered dietitian

And, the results are in:

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In addition, Danielle Liszka, a junior at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, majoring in nutrition and health promotion, was randomly selected among voters to win $500 and a bountiful selection of whole grain foods.

“We designed the contest to inspire people everywhere to ‘Make the Switch’ to nutritious and delicious whole grains,” said Harriman. “From soups and salads to casseroles and comfort food, our creative bloggers brought delicious whole grains to a whole new level.”

In addition to the winners, other bloggers and dietitians who transformed “old” recipes made with refined grains to dishes featuring whole grains included: Chocolate & Carrots (finalist), The Nutrition Twins (finalist), Mountain Mama Cooks, We Are Not Martha, Healthy Seasonal Recipes, Girlichef, The Lean Green Bean, The Nifty Foodie, Cooking with Books, Real Mom Nutrition, Poet in the Pantry, and The Huffington Post.

Most people still fall short of whole grain recommendations, and would benefit from switching more of the grains they eat to whole grains. While health 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 your diet helps.

Studies show that eating whole grains lowers the risk of many chronic diseases, including heart disease and diabetes. Other benefits include reduced risk of asthma, healthier blood pressure levels, and better weight control.

Companies sponsoring the Make the Switch program were Arnold/Brownberry/Orowheat Bread, Bob’s Red Mill, and Gen-ji-mai Rice.

Please contact Rachel Greenstein (rachel@oldwayspt.org or 617-896-4888) for more information, including hi-res graphics of the winning recipes or of Whole Grains Month or Make the Switch logos or for interviews with WGC and Oldways program managers.



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 9,500 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.