Summer 1995
Wheat Foods News and Trends
by Aase Hamnes, Wheat Foods Council
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Prairie Grains is the
official publication of
the Minnesota
Association of
Wheat Growers,
North Dakota Grain
Growers Association,
South Dakota Wheat,
Inc., and the
Minnesota Barley
Growers Association.
SUMMER IS A SEASON FOR BREADS-- With the exception of New Year's Day, the summer season arguably prompts more dieting resolutions than any other time of year. There may be no better antidote for summer dieting resolutions than bread.
Complex carbohydrates like those found in bread contain less than half the calories found in fat. Further, calories from carbohydrates are less likely to turn into body fat than calories from fat.
Bread is not only perfect for healthy diets, but is well suited for summertime, when many people boycott ovens in favor of cold foods that require little preparation time.
White and whole wheat bread, dinner rolls, hamburger and hot dog buns, raisin bread, hard rolls, English muffins, bread sticks, and bagels are all low-fat complex carbohydrates that may be included in picnics, cookouts and every-day meals this summer. Pasta in cold salads is another healthy choice for summer meals.
FITNESS EDUCATORS GET GRAINS MESSAGE -- I had the opportunity this past spring to work at the Wheat Foods Council's exhibit at the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance convention.
This national convention brought together health and fitness educators who influence our young people through school athletic programs, therefore an important audience for our grains nutrition message.
The Wheat Foods Council also sponsored nationally-known sports nutritionist and author Nancy Clark to speak to this group. She gave an excellent presentation on the importance of "fueling up" for fitness and stressed that the basis of an active person's diet should be complex carbohydrates such as breads and pasta.
Exhibiting at this convention is one of the ways the Wheat Foods Council broadcasts its message; by targeting opinion leaders such as this group of educators.
LOCAL HEALTH FAIRS GREAT TO SEE -- Health and fitness is a concern for many Americans as evidenced by the well-attended health festivals held in many communities. These events bring together local health services as well as exhibits by organizations with good health-related information.
Hallock, MN recently held a successful festival and I enjoyed representing the Wheat Foods Council and the Minnesota Wheat Council while talking to many there about the nutritional benefits of wheat foods.
GET MORE GRAINS IN SCHOOL LUNCHES -- School Foodservice and Nutrition magazine's June issue will discuss how to incorporate more grain foods into the school foodservice lunch program. Two of the articles in this issue have been written by the Wheat Foods Council. This magazine has an audience of 65,000 school foodservice directors and managers.
MALLS BIG ON WHEAT PRODUCTS -- Croissants and pastries sold in mall food courts bring in more money per square foot than almost every other category of food including pizza, hamburgers, ice cream and hot dogs, according to Tufts University Diet and Nutrition Letter, April, 1995.