The WGC Team is back from San Antonio and all fired after up after an amazing conference! The Whole Grains on Every Plate conferenc [1]e is our sixth such event to date and we packed the program with interesting, informative, and inspirational content. In attendance were the movers and shakers of science, journalism, and manufacturing, all there to share and learn from one another. I am so pleased with the outcome and am already seeing the ripple effects.
While I’m still recovering from the sheer exhaustion of putting on this incredible event, I am also energized by the collaborative efforts of every attendee to make the most of our brief time together. To give you a sense of what it was like, I have jotted down my highlights here for you.
Putting a Face with a Name
Because most of our behind-the-scenes work at Whole Grain Central is via email and phone calls, we rarely (if ever) get the opportunity to meet our Whole Grains Council members. At the conference, Mallory and I had the pleasure of meeting representatives from so many member companies that previously we had only met virtually. Being able to talk face-to-face allowed for more and better brainstorming opportunities for sharing whole grain ideas among all of us.
Cooking with Whole Grains
Sticking with our theme, there were literally whole grains on every plate! Over the course of the conference, we had opportunities at each meal and break to sample different whole grain dishes from our sponsors. Here’s what was on the menu:
An Impressive Program
Having a stellar line-up for our first night set the tone for our program. Our conference theme was Whole Grains on Every Plate, but our first session’s speakers put whole grains on MILLIONS of plates. Reaching the masses, our speakers included: Jennifer Ignacio from Compass Group North America who spoke about the increase of whole grains in the foodservice segment, particularly workplace and hospital cafeterias; Army Lieutenant Colonel Christine Edwards who shared how the military is encouraging whole grain consumption with the troops; and Susan Roberts with the Partnership for a Healthier America, who addressed initiatives in the White House to put whole grains on the American plate.
The sessions that followed over the next two days touched all aspects of whole grains. Statistics-driven sessions from science-based topics were woven in between trend reports from media and consumer perspectives. We also heard the heart-warming stories of three organizations where whole grains are making a difference to food-insecure kids, cancer survivors, and firefighters deep in the heart of Texas.
And the event just wouldn’t be complete without a little entertainment, right? After a full day of sessions on Thursday, we were able to enjoy some local flavors of San Antonio and were entertained by a strolling mariachi band.
In the end, we learned a lot, made new connections, and had some laughs. By all definitions, we can call it a successful conference. And before we know it, it’ll be time to begin planning the next one!
-Karen
Conference materials, speaker bios, program book and recipes are available for download by clicking here [3].
Links
[1] http://wholegrainscouncil.org/get-involved/attend-our-conference
[2] http://www.mysanantonio.com/life/food/restaurants/article/Personal-chef-practices-the-healthful-eating-tips-3653515.php
[3] http://wholegrainscouncil.org/get-involved/whole-grains-on-every-plate-conference-october-2012
[4] https://oldwayspt.org/categories/whole-grains
[5] https://oldwayspt.org/categories/whole-grains-council