Charles W.H. Matthaei Explains Importance of Whole Grains in Diet

Cap’n Crunch is dead and childhood obesity killed him. Or so Internet rumors claimed. While reports were blown out of proportion, the real problem of obesity is larger than ever. With one in three American children and two out of three adults overweight or obese*, families are examining the food they eat, schools are looking at the lunches they serve, and companies are working to improve unhealthy products. For ChemE alumnus Charles W. H. Matthaei (BS, ’42), Chairman of the Board for Roman Meal, promoting healthy eating and producing wholesome products is key to fighting obesity. The Tacoma-based bread company has been making whole-grain products for almost 100 years. Matthaei recently created a program aiming to reduce childhood obesity.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the American diet is most deficient in whole grains. While getting double the recommended limit of refined grains, the typical American only receives 15% of their recommended whole grains. With these startling statistics, it’s worth looking at what makes whole grains different from their refined counterparts.

A whole grain is the grain (like wheat or barley) in its pure, complete form, said Matthaei. They contains three parts: the bran, the endosperm, and germ. While refined grains use only the endosperm—a source of carbohydrates and proteins—they are missing micronutrients that the bran and germ contain, including fiber, B vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals. In the past, only the rich could afford processed grains, while the poor ate whole grain, or black, bread. But now, it’s people with more income and education, who are eating nutritious foods. “College educated people are more inclined to eat whole grain foods,” said Matthaei. “Most people don’t place value on whole grains. It takes education to know what a whole grain is and its value.”

Knowing proper nutrition can be a challenge for parents, as information can be conflicting, Matthaei said. Labels on cereals and breads may claim the product is healthy, made with whole grains, and good for kids, but parents need to look beyond the labels. “With kids’ cereal, how much sugar is in there?” he asks. “White bread has been accepted and it has been a huge item. But kids should only get whole grain products. Refined products are not necessary.”

While earning his degree in chemical engineering, Matthaei acquired an educational foundation of food reactions and processes that he has used throughout his 60 years at Roman Meal. “I had been trained in science. I recognized the importance of nutrition,” he said. Using his knowledge of food and nutrition and working with experts in the health fields, Mattheai has created The Roman Meal School Lunch Program. “The Roman Meal School Lunch program will try to bring about a behavioral change to overcome the huge problem of childhood obesity.”

Mattheai is currently working with Palm Beach School District in Florida to get the program implemented, and, if adopted, it would be the first school district in the country with the program. Providing more than foods to schoolchildren, the program combines good nutrition, exercise, and BMI-monitoring to keep kids healthy. Using a BMI-monitoring chart created by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), children in the program would have their BMI measured every month or quarter, with charts going home to keep parents updated on their child’s progress. (Body Mass Index is a measurement formula dividing weight in pounds by height in inches). While some critics are concerned with monitoring a child’s BMI, Mattheai feels it is the only sensible solution. By keeping tabs on a child’s BMI, he said, parents will be able to recognize if a child is in danger of becoming overweight or obese, and can take appropriate, preventative steps.

In addition to the BMI charts, the program includes healthy and calorie-appropriate lunches based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “My Pyramid”. With no fatty food, or sucrose- or high fructose corn syrup-sweetened drinks, the lunch will feature vegetables, fruits, dairy, meats and whole grain Roman Meal breads and buns supplied by an area baker. The cost for the Roman Meal lunches would be comparable to the lunch program currently available at the school, said Matthaei. In addition to providing healthy food to children, the program would teach kids healthy habits to use at home and throughout their lives.

A 14-day meal plan with foods that adhere to the “My Pyramid” guidelines would also be sent to parents to keep meals healthy at home. Teachers would receive an instructional DVD to implement the program, and examples of fun, 30-60 minute exercises and games, for kids to do at school and at home with their families.

In addition to the Roman Meal School Lunch Program, the company continues to develop products and services to keep people healthy. New products include a vegan sprouted legume and grain burger, and gluten-free English muffins and multi-seed thins. Healthy Living videos and recipe ideas are available on the website. “The company has always been focused on nutrition. That’s been our interest, the public,” said Matthaei.