National Wheat Bread Month is held every January, and we can’t wait to try all the different kinds of recipes out there. But before we get into it, did you know that bread has been around for 14,500 years? That means it has been a staple food for as long as civilization as we know it today has been around. How many times a day or week do you eat a slice of toast or a sandwich? Bread is part of your life — no matter which country you come from, chances are you have your way of baking and enjoying bread. People often say music is a universal language so why can’t bread be that too?
History of National Wheat Bread Month
Did you know that bread is one of the most ancient prepared foods? Starch residue on rocks used for pounding plants was discovered 30,000 years ago in places like Europe and Australia. Quite possibly, during this time, starch extract from plant roots like cattails and ferns was spread on a flat rock, cooked over a fire, and shaped into a primitive form of flatbread.
Furthermore, the world’s oldest evidence of bread-making has been discovered in Jordan’s northeastern desert at a 14,500-year-old Natufian site. Ever since the people of Jordan possibly invented bread, the staple food has undergone many different changes and interpretations by various cultures, nations, and bakers. One such example is wheat bread, which is made of a combination of white and whole wheat flour as distinguished from bread made entirely of white or whole wheat flour.
Diets high in whole-wheat bread products help to prevent diabetes, cancer, heart disease, aging, and obesity. According to research, ground whole wheat has more nutritional value than refined flour. This is due to the presence of bran in whole grain, which is a good source of dietary fiber and other micronutrients such as vitamins B and E, magnesium, and zinc, as well as possibly antioxidants such as flavonoids. In 2011, January officially became known as Wheat Bread Month, and as “Hometown Journal” stated, “ It recognizes both the economic and dietary importance of wheat production.”
National Wheat Bread Month timeline
Grains become the mainstay of making bread following the dawn of the Neolithic Age and the spread of agriculture.
Persians invent a windmill system for the milling of grains to bake bread.
The steel roller mill is invented in Switzerland, revolutionizing the process of baking bread.
The Chorleywood bread process, a method of efficient dough production, is developed.
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. designs and releases the first self-contained breadmaker for household use in Japan.
The first-ever Wheat Bread Month is celebrated in the U.S.
National Wheat Bread Month FAQs
Why is wheat bread healthy?
Whole wheat bread has the most nutrients, including fiber, B vitamins, iron, folate, potassium, and magnesium.
Is wheat bread good for you to lose weight?
According to a recent study published in the journal “Clinical Nutrition,” wheat bread isn’t the best option for long-term weight loss.
Is it okay to eat wheat bread every day?
Eating a slice of whole wheat bread with at least 11.6 g of carbs per day is beneficial.
National Wheat Bread Month Activities
Try a new bread recipe
Try baking something new, try focaccia or a knotted loaf, or something sweet. Switching things up is always great — you might even discover a new favorite.
Bake wheat bread for your neigbor
Find a wheat bread recipe online or in a cookbook, grab the ingredients and bake the bread. When it’s done, wrap it up nicely and take it to your neighbor.
Go to a baking class
Treat yourself to a class or a series of classes in baking. You will learn how to improve on what you already know and discover some new and exciting baked treats.
5 Interesting Facts You Didn’t Know About Bread
Absorbent bread led to pizza
The bread was used as an absorbent plate in medieval times, known as a trencher, and is said to be the source of a pizza.
Bread wiped out London
The Great Fire of London in 1666 started at a bakery.
Eating bread can curl your hair
In some cultures, it is believed that eating bread crust can make a person's hair curlier.
Germans eat a lot of bread
Germany is known to have the most significant consumption of bread per capita worldwide.
Pre-sliced bread was banned
For a brief time in 1943, pre-sliced bread was banned in the U.S. in a wartime conservation effort.
Why We Love National Wheat Bread Month
Bread is nostalgic
You most likely grew up eating bread prepared by your mother, aunt, or grandmother. Bread becomes a part of our lives from a young age and is such a staple item in so many countries.
It has health benefits
Wheat bread helps to control your blood sugar levels, maintain lower cholesterol levels, lower your risk of colorectal cancer, and help improve bowel movements. Often diets will require you to cut out bread, but doing so can harm your gut and overall health.
It can feed a group of people
Bread is a fundamental dish because there is always enough for everyone. And what better way to celebrate National Wheat Bread Month than having people over for freshly baked bread?
National Wheat Bread Month dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | January 1 | Wednesday |
| 2026 | January 1 | Thursday |
| 2027 | January 1 | Friday |
| 2028 | January 1 | Saturday |
| 2029 | January 1 | Monday |
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