Empowering next generations through the power of whole grain [Promoted content]

Whole grains are essential for health, providing crucial nutrients and reducing disease risk. Sadly, many struggle to include whole grains in their diet. The Whole Grain Initiative aims to partner with governments to tackle this health challenge.

Navigating the maze of a healthy diet can be a daunting challenge. From the latest superfoods to the newest fad, we’re faced with a constant deluge of information – often conflicting – on what we should and shouldn’t eat, and how we should feed our families.  Amid all this noise, there’s one unsung hero which remains the foundation of good nutrition: whole grain.

Across the world, healthcare professionals and nutrition experts alike agree: whole grains are a key component to a balanced diet. And it’s not just a trend, it’s a fact. Alongside fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts, whole grains are vital to our overall wellbeing. They are packed full of nutrients including B vitamins, iron, magnesium, and fiber. Research shows that eating just 50g of whole grain a day reduces the risk of heart disease, type-2 diabetes, obesity, and even some forms of cancer.

As well as the benefits to health, a recent study by the World Wildlife Fund found that “planetary diet” – one made up of ample amounts of plant-based foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes – could reduce food-based greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 if widely adopted.

And yet, despite these clear benefits, many of us simply aren’t getting enough whole grain in their diet.

Small steps for a big impact

One of the main barriers to eating whole grain is that we simply don’t know how to eat more. or we don’t understand what whole grain is, where to find it, or its many benefits. And while governments and the industry are working hand in hand to change this, there might be a bigger issue at stake:

How can we ensure next generations grow up healthy and happy?

One of the easiest things we can all take responsibility for is helping them understand how to make better food choices. Better food choices for their own bodies, and for the planet around them.

This doesn’t mean a revolutionary change to their diet. It can be as easy as making it a habit to opt for whole grain as part of your daily meals – starting the day with a whole grain rich breakfast cereal, choosing brown rice over white, integrating whole grain into your snacks. These little changes will soon have a ripple effect, also helping younger generations make better choices about what they eat as they grow up.

International Whole Grain Day: a catalyst for change

Every year, the Whole Grain Initiative and its partners celebrate International Whole Grain Day. This is our opportunity to amplify the importance of whole grain. As with previous years, we have a range of policy asks which we believe will really start to move the needle on whole grain consumption:

• Improving consumer education programmes and marketing campaigns about whole grain – explaining what it is and why it’s important to eat more whole grain
• Integrating quantified recommendations for whole grain intake into dietary guidelines as well as in the algorithms used to determine front of pack labelling schemes – the important contribution of whole grain to healthier diets should be recognised and communicated
• Helping people find whole grain in their diet through clear labelling – these labels should highlight both the health and environmental benefits of whole grain

On November 15^th, experts in nutrition and sustainability will come together at a hybrid event at the European Parliament to discuss the importance of encouraging long-lasting eating habits from childhood. They will explore how increasing whole grain consumption can promote environmental sustainability while improving lifelong personal health.

The gap in whole grain consumption is more than just a statistic; it’s a loud call to action. The advantages of a diet rich in whole grain are too many to ignore. We owe it to our children, to all children, to make whole grain a regular part of our diet and theirs. Through small steps, we can invest in a healthier future for next generations.