You can find most of our products nutrition information below. If you can't find what you are looking for contact your local bakery directly for their nutrition information. You can find their contact information here.

Breads Nutrition Information (PDF) Sweets Nutrition Information (PDF)

A current copy of Adobe Reader is required to view these files. Download Adobe Reader or update your Adobe Reader for free from the Adobe site

Sorted by category below are the answers to frequently asked nutrition-related questions.

• Whole grains / wheat / fiber / flour
• Diabetes / carbohydrates
• Honey
• Allergens
• Salt / phosphorus
• Gluten / Organic / Vegan / Vegetarian
• Bread storage
• Nutrition Facts

Whole grains / wheat / fiber / flour

Q: What is a whole grain?

A: A whole grain is any grain (not just wheat!) which maintains all of its parts! This means it maintains the germ, endosperm, or bran that natural form the kernel. Check out our page with more information on the whole grain.

Q: Are your products whole grain? How can I tell if a product is whole grain?

A: Yes if a product is labeled 100% whole grain in our bakery it is a whole grain! Check out this whole grains post on our blog which can help you determine if a product you are buying is in fact 100% whole grain.

Q: What is different about your whole grain products than others I may find in the grocery store?

A: We ourselves mill our wheat daily in our bakeries to achieve the highest quality whole grain flour in regards to nutrition and quality. Our whole grain flour and the products we make are so fresh the nutrients don't even have the time to fully deteriorate!

Q: What makes whole grains so healthy?

A: Whole grains are full of micronutrients which support metabolism and promote body function, higher in fiber which promotes digestive health and keeps you feeling full, and has numerous studies suggesting time and time again that they aid in the prevention of heart disease, certain cancers, diabetes, obesity, and promote weight loss among other things. So, all in all, whole grains promote a healthy body and a trim waist line. And there is scientific evidence to prove it!

Q: Doesn't whole grain mean more fiber? I see a lot of products labeled as whole grain but there seems to be very little fiber. Why is this?

A: Whole grains do in fact provide more fiber. This is because keeping the grain whole maintains all of the parts of the kernel including the fibrous bran. You may be referring to some items that have "whole rain" indicated on their label but only use some whole grain in their product, not all. Try any of our products labeled 100% Whole Grain if you want an entirely whole grain product. Also keep an eye out for a whole grain listed as one of the top ingredients listed in the ingredient list.

Q: How much fiber should I be getting?

A: What you should be shooting for is 25-38 grams per day for most healthy men and women respectively. Our whole grain breads including Honey Whole Wheat, Dakota, and Nine Grain pack an impressive 4 grams of fiber per 2 oz slice. Our High Five Fiber has additional fiber from oat bran, wheat bran, as well as a variety of seeds and can load you up with 5 grams in a single 2 oz slice!

Q: Is your wheat genetically modified (GMO)?

A: We can confidently say that none of our wheat is GMO.

Q: Is your flour bleached and bromated?

A: All of our whole grain breads are made with whole grain wheat flour made by freshly milling wheat berries from Montana in each bakery so you do not need to worry about bromation or bleaching in the whole grain breads. The products made with white flour are most likely unbleached and unbromated which is what Great Harvest Franchising recommends all our bakeries use. If you are still concerned, double check with your local bakery about the white flour they purchase.

Q: Where do your bakeries get their wheat?

A: Great Harvest gets all of their wheat kernels from an area in Montana known as the Golden Triangle. This area produces some of the world's best bread baking wheat because of its cold winters and hot summers. We have a close relationship with our farmers in Montana which allows us to be able to tell exactly which farmer grew the wheat in each loaf of bread even down to knowing exactly which specific field on the farm the wheat in each loaf came from.

Diabetes / carbohydrates

Q: I am a diabetic. Can your breads fit into my diet?

A: Diabetics are not recommended to eliminate carbohydrates from their diet because carbohydrates are the body and brain's preferred energy source. The main goal with diabetes is to get your blood sugar as close to normal as possible through diet manipulation. Our whole grain bread is a great choice for most diabetics if the amount consumed is controlled because you get all the delicious flavors and health benefits of fresh ground whole wheat! One with diabetes or insulin resistance should focus on allowing their body only the amount of carbohydrates it can handle at one time. This specific amount varies from person to person and should be determined by a doctor or registered dietitian.

Use the button below to download a free guide from our registered dietitian and licensed nutritionist on the diabetes-carbohydrate connection, titled Managing your Diabetic Diet.

Q: I've heard that avoiding carbohydrates or wheat can lead to weight loss. Is this true?

A: Overall, it must be kept in mind that no single nutrient or food item is to blame for anyone's belly. A positive energy balance, meaning you are taking in more calories than you burn, is the cause for weight gain, not certain types of food. As such, a surplus of calories from specific foods, such as carbohydrates or wheat, does not promote body fat any differently than excess calories from other food types would

Q: What is the glycemic load of your breads?

A: There are mixed reviews on low Glycemic Index Diets and current research is further evaluating its effectiveness on certain chronic diseases and weight loss. We do not have the glycemic index for our specific breads.

Honey

Q: Can babies under the age of one nibble on our breads made with honey?

A: No. Just as babies under the age of one shouldn't consume honey, they too shouldn't consume any food containing honey. The spores in honey can survive a high temperature which means they may remain present in baked products. Babies under a year of age haven't fully developed the good bacteria they need in their GI tract to fend off these spores so it is best to steer clear of any food containing any form of honey until the baby is over one year of age.

Q: Can mothers consume Great Harvest breads with honey and still safely breast feed their babies?

A: A mom who is healthy should have no problems breast feeding if she consumes honey. This is because the bacteria in her gut is fully developed and can combat the spores that may be present in honey which would prevent them from producing a toxin. This means no toxin or bacteria from the honey would make it to mommy's milk or cause harm to the baby.

Allergens

Q: Do your products have allergens in them?

A: Most of our bakeries regularly use wheat, eggs, soy, milk, peanut, and tree nut products. Also, many of our bakeries use an egg wash on their breads. Contact your local bakery to see what allergens may be in your products. Please keep in mind that since these products are used regularly within our bakeries there is a high risk of cross contamination. When in doubt, assume the allergen is present in our products.

Q: Why do some of your bakeries use an egg wash?

A: Some bakeries choose to use an egg wash as a traditional method of giving the bread a nice brown color and shine. It can also help prevent bread from drying out as it proofs.

Salt / phosphorus

Q: Do your products use iodized salt?

A: Most likely yes. Ask your local bakery to check their salt container label to see if their salt is iodized. If in doubt, assume it is iodized.

Q: Is there an unhealthy amount of salt in Great Harvest Bread?

A: No. The salt content in our bread is not unhealthy when part of a balanced diet. The daily recommendation for sodium intake is less than 2,300 mg for a healthy adult. One 2 oz slice of our whole grain bread only contains about 1/7th of the daily recommended amount. Our whole grain breads provide a reasonable amount of salt and is rich in nutrients and fiber.

Q: Why do your breads contain sodium?

A: Salt is an essential component of the bread making process. It is used for not only flavor, but also for function. Salt actually inhibits yeast to control fermentation. If not enough salt is added, flavor and texture would be compromised. We use very few ingredients compared to other store bought breads so the proportion of each ingredient, including salt, is higher per slice. Also our slices tend to be thicker in density than most at 2 oz or 56 g per serving so the sodium tends to look higher slice for slice.

Q: Is your bread OK for a low phosphorus diet?

A: No. Wheat and most plant foods contain phosphorus or phosphate. White breads will have lower phosphorus content than whole grains making refined grains a better choice for those looking for lower phosphorus content.

Gluten / Organic / Vegan / Vegetarian

Q: Does Great Harvest sell gluten free products?

A: Some Great Harvest bakeries do host an array of gluten free products. You will have to contact the bakery nearest to you to determine what types of products they offer. It is important to remember though that since we are a whole grain bakery that mills our own wheat daily there is a high risk of cross contamination of gluten onto our gluten free products.

Q: Are your spelt, kamut, and sprouted wheat breads gluten free?

A: No these are all varieties of wheat and thus they are not gluten free. Any wheat, barley, or rye varieties as well as oats (unless labeled gluten free) will contain gluten.

Q: Why don't you recommend that all your bakeries use organic wheat?

A: A few local Great Harvest bakery owners use organic wheat, but we don't recommend or require it for all Great Harvest locations. The term "organic" tells us about the history of the wheat, not the nutrient value. We do not use any GMO wheat. Very rarely is there a need for our farmers to use a chemical treatment after the wheat kernel forms on the plant but they do apply a post-emergent herbicide and pesticide to the plant when it's in the leaf stage. This is to ensure that our wheat gets the right nutrients and has a consistent level of quality that we need to make the level of products we desire.

Q: Are your products vegetarian or vegan?

A: Not all of our products are vegetarian or vegan. We do have cheeses in some of our recipes, often times include an egg wash on our breads, and use honey made by bees from in many products. Ask your local bakery if they use an egg wash or any other animal products in their baked goods to ensure you are getting a vegetarian/vegan item.

Bread storage

Q: How do you recommend storing the bread and for how long?

A: Most of our breads keep for about 7-10 days and we suggest you store them on the counter at room temperature as refrigeration may disrupt the quality. We recommend refrigerating our breads that contain cheese, vegetables, or meat products such as pepperoni to preserve the life of the product and promote food safety.

Q: Can you refrigerate or freeze the bread?

A: We recommend not refrigerating the breads as it disrupts the quality. If you can't finish a loaf within its 7-10 day life span you can double bag the bread and freeze it. It should keep its quality that way for up to 3 months. When you are ready to eat it, merely set it on the counter and allow it to thaw at room temperature. Avoid popping it in the oven or microwaving the bread as it may dry the product out.

Nutrition Facts

Q: I can't find the nutrition information for a specific product on your website. How do I find the nutrition for that product?

A: All Great Harvest bakeries are individually owned and operated, and the owner is free to change recipes, choose ingredients and pick which products they have available. The specific product you're looking for is most likely a local bakery specialty. We suggest giving them a call for their specific nutrition and ingredient information. You can find their contact information here.

Q: Do you have good products for Weight Watchers and WW Point Information?

A: We cannot legally use the "Weight Watchers" name in our literature. However, many of our breads (especially the whole grain varieties) work great in any healthy diet because they are low fat and offer fiber and nutrients.

Other Nutrition Questions

If you have any other nutrition questions, please feel free to email our registered dietitian at nutrition@greatharvest.com.