TODAY 19th November we are celebrating International Whole Grain Day

19^th November 2019: Today here at Nestlé Cereals we joins a global consortium of public health experts, scientists, consumer groups, manufacturers and government regulators to launch International Whole Grain Day at the European Parliament: raising awareness of whole grain and calling on governments to prioritise it in their national dietary guidelines.

Known as ‘the Whole Grain initiative’, the consortium unites high-profile organisations including Cereal Partners globally, the European Public Health Alliance and European Cancer Leagues in the shared aim of increasing whole grain intake worldwide, not only for healthier lives but for a healthier planet.

And at Nestlé Cereals, we are committed to helping you and your family eat more of the good stuff that contributes to a healthier life - fibre and whole grain. According to the World Health Organization, we should be eating more whole grain products along with more fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts.

Based on the wealth of evidence showing that whole grain is an important part of a balanced diet, we have taken significant steps to add more whole grain in our cereals over the past decade. Every Nestlé Cereal with the green banner has whole grain as the number one ingredient – it contains at least 8 grams of whole grain per serving, helping you to get more fibre and whole grain in your diet.

You can find out more about the World Health Organization commissioned study here: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(18)31809-9/fulltext

When grains are refined to make ‘white’ products, like white bread, and white rice and pasta, the outer parts of the grain are thrown away and only the middle section is used. It’s fine to eat refined foods – don’t panic! – they’re good for you too, they just don't contain as many nutrients as their whole grain sibling.

Bran: The fibre-rich outer layer contains protein and B vitamins

Endosperm: The starchy bit in the middle includes protein and carbohydrates for energy, and some B vitamins

Germ: Packed with nutrients, the inner part contains B vitamins and vitamin E plus minerals like magnesium, and omega-6 fatty acids.

Grains are everywhere! Drive out into the countryside in summertime, and you’ll see fields of wheat, oats, barley and corn (for rice, which is grown in waterlogged paddy fields, you might have to travel a bit further…).

But when you’re back in town, staring at the supermarket shelves, how can you tell the whole from the not-so-whole? You may be surprised that some of the foods you’d imagine to be whole grain, actually aren’t.

• Bran
• Corn meal
• Polenta
• Corn grits
• Pearled barley
• White rice

So whole grains are an important part of a varied, balanced diet for your whole family – and they taste great too! Go whole grain!

Find out more about switching to whole grain