Happy Whole Grain Sampling Day!First celebrated in 2012, Whole Grain Sampling Day takes place every year on the last Wednesday in March. What a great way to finish off Nutrition Month --especially since MyPlate and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans both emphasize making whole grains a part of your healthy eating pattern!This year, the Whole Grain Council offers lots of guidance for how to participate in Whole Grain Sampling Day. They've got loads of resources for both the general public and health educators in particular. One of our favorite things to try is the hashtag #samplewholegrains, which can be used across social media platforms.The Whole Grains Council has lots of other whole grain resources too, including...

• #SampleWholeGrains Social Media Contest: There are 12 different ways to enter!
• Quizzes, Contests, and Games, all of which feature whole grains
• Graphics you can use to promote Whole Grain Sampling Day
• Free Handouts to help educate your audience about whole grains

And you know I love to talk about whole grains. Here are some of my favorite articles and handouts...

• Whole Grains That Cook in 20 Minutes or Less: A Guide
• Selecting and Presenting Whole Grains
• Keen on Quinoa
• Whole Grain Facts
• The Truth About Whole Grain Carbohydrates
• Whole Grains in a Mediterranean Eating Pattern
• My Whole Grain Journey

Oh! Here are a few fantastic whole grain recipes.

• Whole Grain Pancakes
• Crowd-Pleasing Calzones
• Lentil Barley Stew
• Oatmeal with Strawberries and Skim Milk
• Whole Wheat Baked Ziti
• Red Quinoa and Berry Salad
• Brown Rice Kale Pilaf

And finally, since people generally avoid grains like barley, oats, rye, spelt, and wheat while observing Passover (consuming only unleavened grains instead) it's important to be thoughtful about how you handle Whole Grain Sampling Day.[shopify embed_type="product" shop="nutrition-education-store.myshopify.com" product_handle="whole-grain-bulletin-board-kit"]