It's our favorite time of the year, here at the Oldways Whole Grains Council. That's right... September is Whole Grains Month!

While this hearty and wholesome food group is an important part of a healthy diet every day of the year, Whole Grains Month is the perfect opportunity to get out of a rut and broaden your whole grain horizons. Luckily, we've got the recipes and cooking tips you need to help you experiment with some of the "lesser known" whole grains (see here for details).

No matter how your community is celebrating, be sure to #sharewholegrains with us on Instagram (@whole_grains_council), for a chance to win $500 in our contest. Plus, at the bottom of this issue we're sharing a wide variety of deals, discounts, and whole grain specials.

Lastly, remember that it's not too late to plan a Whole Grains Month event in your community. Check out this webpage to view a sample of Whole Grains Month events and activities, then use these tools to plan or bulk up your whole grain celebration.

Share your Whole Grains Month event with Kelly Toups at kelly@oldwayspt.org.

Whole grains are becoming the new norm, according to the 2015 Whole Grains Consumer Insights Survey.

Classics like whole wheat, brown rice, and oats prove more popular than trendy "ancient grains," while the gluten free fad appears to be overblown.

Do your favorite grains line up with the rest of the country? Read more about the results, or download the full infographic.

In a review of over 3,200 foods, scientists found that gluten free products had significantly less protein than their gluten-containing counterparts, with few other nutritional differences, echoing previous research. Click here to learn more .

Oatmeal-Yogurt Pancakes with Blackberry Crush