Home

E-Mail

Back

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.

WFC enlists nutrition leaders to dispel misinformation

To dispel new and existing myths about grain foods and fad diets, the Wheat Foods Council has developed a "Setting the Record Straight" coalition of renowned nutrition experts. Adding third-party credibility to the Council’s messages on nutrition, spokespeople serving as media contacts include: David Allison, Ph.D., St. Luke’s Obesity Research Center; Liz Applegate, Ph.D., nutrition department associate professor, University of California; Jeanne Goldberg, Ph.D., R.D., director of the Center for Nutrition Communication, Tufts University; Mindy Hermann, M.B.A., R.D., nutrition editor, Child magazine; Georgia Kostas, M.P.H., R.D., director of nutrition, Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research; and Kathryn Scherb, M.B.A., R.D., owner of Kathryn Scherb & Consultants.

Council sends winningbread messages

To "stamp" out diet misconceptions about bread, the Wheat Foods Council is distributing a series of six direct mail postcards to key food editors at newspapers and magazines nationwide. A program component of the Wheat Foods Council and American Bakers Association’s bread and rolls program, the postcards will be mailed throughout 1998-1999 and will feature nutritional benefits of bread and rolls with creative bread-based serving suggestions.

Whole Grains Offer Numerous Health Benefits

A recent review of whole grains showed the total of their nutrition value is greater than the sum of their individual nutrients, according to the Women’s Health Letter. The study, recently reported in the International Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that whole grains’ benefits include:

• Whole grains take longer to digest, which allows more nutrients to be broken down and absorbed into the blood stream.

• Whole grains help regulate blood sugar levels by slowing down the conversion of starches into sugar.

• Whole grains help maintain favorable bacteria in the intestinal environment.

• Whole grains have a concentrated source of some protective antioxidants, plant-based estrogen and phytochemicals.

The American Dietetic Association recommends that at least three of your recommended six to 11 grain food servings come from whole grains.

Bread Machines Becoming a Household Staple

One kitchen appliance that’s finding its way under more Christmas trees each year is the bread machine, which offers fresh, baked bread without the hassle of hand mixing, kneading and rising. In fact, today almost 20% of US households boast a bread machine, according to a survey recently conducted by the Bread Machine Industry Association. And another 20% of U.S. households are thinking about buying a bread-making appliance.

But manufacturers aren’t stopping with bread. More diverse machines hitting the market now include multi-purpose capabilities, such as mixing pasta dough, making butter and whipping up jams. And the "bread only" machines are getting a few updates as well, ranging from one-hour baking times to more traditional-shaped loafs.

Dough Art and other creations

You don’t need to be a Picasso to be an artist: you’ll just need a loaf of whole wheat bread dough. Cover it and thaw overnight in the refrigerator or several hours at room temperature until soft. Once thawed, let children shape into letters, numbers or designs. Let rise for 15 minutes. Bake for 15 minutes at 425 degrees F.

This is one of over 100 simple nutritional recipes and educational activities for kids involving foods, many of them wheat foods, in the book, "Caterpillar Scramble & Cantaloupe Boats," by nutrition expert Noreen Thomas. It’s a great stocking-stuffer for parents, grandparents, baby-sitters, daycare-providers, or anyone who needs ideas to help kids eat better — and have fun while they’re at it. Cost is $9.95 plus $3 postage/handling. Call the NDSU bookstore at 1-800-428-8309 or write the author at: Doubting Thomas Publishing Co., PO Box 193, Georgetown, MN 56546 (218-233-8066).