WHOLE DAY FOR WHOLE GRAIN

WHOLE DAY FOR WHOLE GRAIN

Whole Day for Whole Grain (formerly Whole Grain Sampling Day) is celebrated on the last Wednesday of March, is all about ditching the "boring" and embracing whole  grains with gusto! This is you invitation to stop playing it safe with white bread and start exploring a world of nutty, chewy, and downright delicious ancient seeds and stalks.

#WholeDayforWholeGrain

Let’s be honest, when most of us hear the words "whole grains," our brain automatically creates images images of bland birdseed or cardboard-flavored crackers. We want to let the world know that whole grains are anything but bland! In fact, we invite everyone to revisit incorporating whole grains into our diets to prove that whole grains are actually a flavor fest!

We're not making an assumption that people don't enjoy whole grains. We do, however, think a lot of people avoid them because they aren't sure how to prepare them or which varieties may be readily available to them. Guess what? We're going to help you spice up your life up by adding variety on your whole grain culinary adventure!

The "Other" Whole Grains

Here is a start to help you on your quest to discover new whole grains. You can begin looking for these four whole grains in the "Natural Food" section or baking isle in the grocery store or at a local market:

  1. Teff is a cocoa-flavored grain is considered to be the world's smallest grain. Originating in the highlands of Ethiopia and Eritrea, you can find this grain in many grocery stores in the natural food section or baking section.

  2. Freekeh is a savory, nutty, and smoky grain rice that is often chewy. Unlike white rice, it never get's mushy after being cooked. Freekeh originates from the eastern Mediterranean (Syria, Lebanon and Palestine), but can be found around the world in stores and markets.

  3. Amaranth is said to be the Gold of the Aztecs. When cooked, it has a porridge-like consistency with a deep, nutty and earthy flavor. Some describe it as a tasting like black pepper.

  4. Farro is the king of the Mediterranean. It’s hearty, nutty, and holds up perfectly in big, bold salads. Often compared to Barley, Farro has a structured, bouncy bite that makes it feel much more like a "hearty meal" than a "side dish."

WHOLE DAY FOR WHOLE GRAIN CELEBATION IDEAS

Life is too short to eat boring food! Celebrate Whole Day for Whole Grain by grabbing a fork, picking a grain you can't pronounce, and get cooking!

  • Decide which of your favorite meals you want to cook and swap the refined grain for a whole one. Making tacos? Use corn tortillas. Making stir-fry? Try black rice or quinoa.

  • Throw a popcorn party! Popcorn is a 100% whole grain and adding seasoning like smoked paprika or a little Parmesan will quench your tastebuds.

  • Gather your celebration squad together for a potluck. Invite everyone to bring a dish featuring a grain they've never heard of before. The best part of not knowing what they are going to bring is being given the opportunity to taste everything!

  • Share recipes and photos of your grain creations and share it on social media using the hashtag #WholeDayforWholeGrain. We can't wait to see what healthy meals your eating!

HISTORY

Whole Day for Whole Grain (formerly Whole Grain Sampling Day) was created in 2012 by Oldways, a food and nutrition nonprofit, and their Whole Grains Council. They wanted to encourage people to sample grains they might be intimidated skeptical to try. The main focus is for consumers, retailers, and restaurants to embrace the variety of whole grains and add them to our daily meals.