National Wheat Bread Month - National Wheat Bread Month is here, and we are celebrating all month long, but first, let’s dive into the history of this staple food and then preheat those ovens.

National Wheat Bread Month 2025 – January 2025

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

10,000 B.C.
The Use of Grains to Make Bread

Grains become the mainstay of making bread following the dawn of the Neolithic Age and the spread of agriculture.

600 B.C.
The Persians Lend a Hand

Persians invent a windmill system for the milling of grains to bake bread.

1834
A Steel Roller Brings New Hope

The steel roller mill is invented in Switzerland, revolutionizing the process of baking bread.

1961
The Bake Bread Faster

The Chorleywood bread process, a method of efficient dough production, is developed.

1986
The First Home Breadmaker

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. designs and releases the first self-contained breadmaker for household use in Japan.

2011
Wheat Bread Month Starts

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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

  1. 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.

  2. Bread wiped out London

    The Great Fire of London in 1666 started at a bakery.

  3. Eating bread can curl your hair

    In some cultures, it is believed that eating bread crust can make a person's hair curlier.

  4. Germans eat a lot of bread

    Germany is known to have the most significant consumption of bread per capita worldwide.

  5. 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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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
2023 January 2 Monday
2024 January 1 Monday
2025 January 1 Wednesday
2026 January 1 Thursday
2026 January 1 Friday
National Hangover Day
Global Family Day
Polar Bear Plunge Day
Solemnity of Mary
Universal Hour of Peace
Commitment Day
Euro Day
Z Day
Ellis Island Day
Apple Gifting Day
New Year’s Dishonor List Day
Public Domain Day
World Day of Peace
Copyright Law Day
New Year's Day
National Bloody Mary Day
Triumph of the Revolution
Rose Bowl Game
International Public Domain Day
National First-Foot Day
Sudan Independence Day
Tournament of Roses Parade
Haiti Independence Day
Mummer's Parade
Ring a Bell Day
National Shepherd Day
Junkanoo
Poppy's Birthday
George Washington Carver's Birthday
Morris Chestnut's Birthday
Diet Resolution Week
Celebration of Life Week
National Silent Record Week
New Year’s Resolutions Week
National Time Consciousness Week
The World Series of Beer Pong
National Blood Donor Month
​National Glaucoma Awareness Month
National Oatmeal Month
National Train Your Dog Month
​Thyroid Awareness Month
Unchain a Dog Month
National Soup Month
National Mentoring Month
National Hobby Month
Walk Your Dog Month
Cervical Health Awareness Month
National Sunday Supper Month
National Fibre Focus Month
National Polka Music Month
International Brain Teaser Month
Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month
International Wayfinding Month
Bread Machine Baking Month
California Dried Plum Digestive Month
Celebration Of Life Month
National Mail Order Gardening Month
Financial Wellness Month
International Creativity Month
Get A Balanced Life Month
Get Organized Month
International Child Centered Divorce Month
National Codependency Awareness Month
National Eye Care Month
National Volunteer Blood Donor Month
National Skating Month
Artichoke and Asparagus Month
National Braille Literacy Month
Rising Star Month
National Poverty in America Awareness Month
Ginuary
Poverty Awareness Month
International Quality of Life Month
National Book Blitz Month
Family Fit Lifestyle Month
National Staying Healthy Month
National Clean Up Your Computer Month
Be Kind To Food Servers Month
National Meat Month
Shape Up US Month
Dry January
Manuary
National Birth Defects Prevention Month
National Stalking Awareness Month
National Radon Action Month
National CBD Month
Clap 4 Health Month
Prune Breakfast Month
Self-Love Month
Receding Gums Awareness Month
Little Things Mental Health Campaign
Apple and Apricot Month
START Child Health campaign
March of Dimes Birth Defects Prevention Month
National Be On-Purpose Month
National Adopt a Rescued Bird Month
International Change Your Stars Month
National Menudo Month
International Wealth Mentality Month
Retail Bakers Month
National Conscience Month
Tubers and Dried Fruit Month
National Black Diamond Month
National Personal Trainer Awareness Month
Children Impacted by Parent's Cancer Month
National Wheat Bread Month
Veganuary
Get Ireland Active
National Bath Safety Month
National Hot Tea Month
National Slow Cooking Month
National Thank You Month
Teen Driving Awareness Month
National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month