College of MedicineFood LabCurrent Projects

Current Projects

The Whole Grain Study

About the Study

The Whole Grain study is evaluating the impact of convenience on intake of intact whole grains by comparing consumption of barley, buckwheat, and quinoa that are offered in a convenient pre-cooked ready-to-eat form compared to traditional bulk dried form that requires preparation and cooking time. The ready-to-eat grains in this study are prepared by WSU food scientists in Pullman and processed using WSU microwave technologies to ensure food safety. The ready-to-eat grains can be heated and eaten at home while the dried grains will need to be cooked by the participant prior to consumption at home.

Dates and Place

Enrollment beginning January 2024 at Washington State University’s Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Campus in Spokane. Each study period is 4 consecutive weeks. Labs visits once per week on weekday mornings. Each visit will take 10-15 minutes.

This study requires participation over a 4-week period. If you choose to participate, you will be provided with 1 serving per day of barley, buckwheat, and quinoa for each day of the week for at home consumption for 4 weeks. You will be provided information on how to cook and prepare these grains at home and given ideas of how to incorporate these whole grains into your regular diet.

At your first visit, we will confirm your eligibility for the study and have you review and sign the informed consent form. We will then collect weight and height measurements, randomize you to either the ready-to-eat or dried condition, and provide education on the benefits of whole grains, recommended intake of whole grains, how to include whole grains in your diet, and how to prepare the study grains. You will then be provided a link to complete a questionnaire about your eating habits. Lastly, you will be sent home with 7 days of study grains. This visit will take up to 90 minutes to complete.

Once a week, you will visit our lab to pick up more study grains. You will either receive dried grains in Ziplock baggies or receive a cooler packed with frozen ready-to-eat grains. Grains are eaten over the course of 7 days and an online survey will be completed daily.

Each day, you will be asked to measure how much of the study grains you ate. At the end of each day, we will send you a survey asking questions about which study grains you consumed and how much of each study grain you ate throughout the day.

You will also have an exit visit at the end of the 4 weeks where you will have your weight measured, complete a short exit survey, and complete a questionnaire about your eating habits.

We are looking for individuals who meet the following criteria:

19 years old or older
Able to communicate in written and spoken English
Not following a restricted diet
Involved in home food preparation
Daily access to working internet
Daily access to working microwave, stove, refrigerator, and freezer
English fluency

Individuals with the following characteristics will not be eligible to participate in the study:

Dietary restrictions, including allergy/intolerance
Latex allergy
Following a diet to increase or decrease body weight
Taking medication that promotes weight loss
Use of nicotine, marijuana, or illicit drugs
Pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
Inability to comprehend the nature of the study instructions
No access to the internet
Planning to leave the Spokane area during the study
Not fluent in the English language

In order to find out whether you are a good fit with our study, we ask you to please fill out the online screening survey. After reviewing your results, we may invite you to our lab for a screening session to determine further eligibility that may take up to 90 minutes. Not everyone who comes to the screening will be eligible for the study. Information from your screening questionnaires will be permanently unlinked from your identity after eligibility has been determined.

You will be paid $100 in the form of a personal check upon completing all study protocols:

One online screening survey (10 min)
One in-person screening session (up to 90min)
Incorporating the study grains into your diet for 4 concurrent weeks
Completing brief daily online survey
Coming to the lab once per week to pick-up additional study grains
Completing the exit visit (up to 75 minutes)

If you complete less than 4 weeks, we cannot pay you. Likewise, if you do not complete all the study-related procedures including eating the study-provided grains and do not complete the daily surveys, we cannot pay you. This is due to the high cost of the trial. Additionally, we cannot use data from less than 4 weeks.

Please note: The screening sessions may determine that the study design is not suitable for you. There will be no payment for attending this screening session. If you are eligible for compensation at the end of the study, a personal check will be mailed to you directly from WSU fiscal services upon completion.

Begin Online Screener