Whole Grains Challenge

It’s time to start preparing for this year's Whole Grains Challenge, a special awards program during the month of October for foodservice outlets across America. Now is the time to plan ahead and get creative with special whole grain promotions and delicious whole grain menu offerings so you can beat the competition and win your category.

What is the Whole Grains Challenge?

The Whole Grains Challenge rewards restaurants and foodservice establishments for offering at least one healthy and delicious whole grain option on their menus at all times. Click here to see what qualifies as "a whole grain option."

Foodservice operations enter the Whole Grains Challenge to:

• Get publicity – Participants in the Challenge will be part of national media coverage. Winners in each of ten categories will be announced to the press, and featured on our website at WholeGrainsCouncil.org.

• Receive great whole grain prizes – Winners in each category will receive a variety of whole grain foods to try on their menus. With the cost of ingredients and foods rising daily, who wouldn't want cases and cases of free, healthy whole grain flours, mixes, treats, crackers and more?!? Click here to see the ever-growing list of this year’s fantastic prizes.

• Reach customers – Just for entering – whether you win or not – your location will be added to our Eating Away From Home web page. This is an important resource for customers looking for restaurants with healthy options. Special sections for K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and workplace dining halls give recognition to these entrants, too.

• Respond to consumer demand – Whole grains have been cited as one of the top trends in dining; when a customer asks for brown rice or quinoa or some other whole grain, make sure that you can answer Yes!

When you enter the Whole Grains Challenge, your dining establishment wins and your diners win too – a perfect combination!

Entry Categories for the 2010 Whole Grains Challenge

We'll be picking a winner in each of these ten categories:

What Happens Next?

As October draws nearer, we'll be posting more details. Our list of whole grain prizes is now online and will undoubtedly continue to grow as we get closer and closer to the start of the Challenge. In late September, we'll open up our online entry form and we'll be accepting entries straight through to Friday, November 5. In late November, we'll announce our 2010 winners, just in time to give thanks for all the generous efforts of our winners - and our prize donors! Want to get a head start on the competition? Check out our sneak preview of this year’s Challenge entry form to see the kind of questions we’ll be asking in October. Then read on below to get inspired for your own entry!

Past Winners of the Whole Grains Challenge

Past winners have included the following restaurants and foodservice establishments:

Be Inspired By Winning Entries

We consider two main factors in choosing our annual Whole Grains Challenge winners. They include

1. the variety of whole grain foods you serve
2. the creativity of your whole grain promotions and educational programs

Click here for a sampling of programs and foods that have wowed us in past years. You can also click on the links below to download some inspirational sample entries. Not every winner goes way out like this – nothing is required beyond filling out the online entry form that asks you to list up to fifteen whole grain foods you served during the contest period, answer a few questions about the nature of your establishment, and add any comments about your operation. That said, every year the entries get more impressive, and you do enhance your chances to win by sending extra materials documenting your whole grain promotions.

Virginia Tech's winning 2007 College / University entry
Newtown CT's winning 2008 K-12 Schools entry
"Best of 2009 Challenge" collection of entry highlights

For more information, Email Kara Berrini - and stay tuned to this page, 'cause October will be here before you know it!