I flew to Minneapolis to join a group of some of my best blogging buddies for a trip to General Mills headquarters. I’ve been communicating back and forth with Erin from the company’s public relations and marketing team for more than a year now and she honestly feels like a friend, so it was so great to be able to meet her in person as well!
General Mills asked our group to their headquarters to learn more about the company, but also (and, in my opinion, most importantly) to provide feedback about changes we’d love to see from them moving forward. (More on this below!)
Our trip began with a trip to the Mill City Museum, the museum that now exists within the ruins of what was once the world’s largest flour mill. We were ushered upstairs into a meeting room where lots of yummy snacks and personalized Cheerios boxes awaited us!
I loved the mix of sweet and savory snacks. None of us could stop eating the chocolate caramel Chex mix and I couldn’t resist filling my snack plate with some of the salty olives and nuts as well.
We spent the next few hours at the Mill City Museum learning about the way Cheerios are made and all that goes into the grain selection process before it was time for a museum tour.
The top floor of the museum overlooks the Mississippi River and offers great views, so we made sure to snap a group photo!
(Monica, Amanda, Janae, me, Tina and Gina)
Dinner at Travail
A little after 5 p.m., we headed back to our hotel for a quick one-hour break before dinner. A few of us decided to take advantage of the AWESOME skyway that meanders around Minneapolis and allows you to walk from place to place without stepping outside into the bitter cold. Genius! Gina, Amanda, Monica, Janae and I walked to Gap and Target to pick up a few things before heading back to our respective rooms at our hotel for a hot second before we had to meet back in the lobby for dinner.
Dinner at Travail on Tuesday was, hands down, my favorite part of my time in Minnesota. (You can see a great review of this hot spot in this New York Times article.)
The restaurant is quirky and trendy, yet comfortable, playful and oh soooo delicious!
Names of people who donated to the restaurant’s Kickstarter campaign adorn the walls and there was plenty to look at as we all took advantage of some of the specialty drinks available to us at the bar.
Give me all the grapefruit, pleeeease.
Once we all had a chance to order drinks, passed appetizers found their way over to our group, including a fried chicken bite topped with the restaurant owner’s grandmother’s special white gravy recipe.
Before long, it was time to take our seats and our group enjoyed a tasting menu that blew all of us away!
There wasn’t one course I didn’t love, but the mini lobster roll stole this seafood lover’s heart. Unreal!
Dessert was a little more interactive, as we were all able to help create homemade Dippin’ Dots inspired by Lucky Charms, Cocoa Puffs and Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
The flavors were spot on and though we clearly need to work on perfecting the circular shape of our Dippin’ Dots, the dessert was still a big hit with our group!
Day Two
My second day in Minneapolis began bright and early. Our group met in the hotel lobby at 7:30 a.m. and I opted out of a hotel workout in favor of ordering room service. Great decision!
I had no trouble finishing the veggie and cheese frittata I ordered and polished off an English muffin with a bit of butter and strawberry jelly before meeting my blogging buddies downstairs and heading out to General Mills’ headquarters.
Upon our arrival, we were immediately greeted by the (permanently) friendly faces of Lucky from the Lucky Charms box and the bee from the Honey Nut Cheerios box!
I didn’t mean to show up dressed like Lucky, but green blazers are where’s it’s at, baby!
Our day at the headquarters began with a tour where we were able to see the employee gym that everyone has access to for free (even after they retire!), the on-site health clinic, infant care center, plethora of nursing rooms for new moms (so wonderful) and more.
Then it was time for a late morning breakfast break. (Breakfast number two? Don’t mind if I do!) After a quick bite, we were off to the Betty Crocker kitchen where we were each told to create a new breakfast recipe in the kitchen using cereal and any of the ingredients on hand. The kitchen was huge and gorgeous and the ingredients available to us were plentiful and very fresh. It was a dream!
I initially planned to make a yogurt pie with a Honey Nut Chex granola crust (made with dates, seeds, nuts and maple syrup), but ran out of time to create the thick, creamy Greek yogurt filling I wanted to and ended up slicing fresh berries and using them as my pie filling.
Whatever works!
Once we were all done creating our respective recipes, it was time for some taste testing. I loved trying everyone’s recipes but I think most of us agreed the silver dollar pancakes Monica made took top prize!
Lunch followed our recipe development activity and even though I’m pretty sure most of us did our fair share of snacking as we played around in the Betty Crocker kitchen, we still filled our plates with lots of food. General Mills did such a great job providing a healthy lunch for us that included baby kale salad, delicious sandwiches, fresh fruit, chia pudding, roasted veggies, the most fabulous mushroom risotto, quinoa salad and more.
While we ate, it was time for an in-depth discussion. Without a doubt, my favorite part of our time at the General Mills headquarters was the 90 minutes or so we spent with company leadership where we were able to share our concerns surrounding food issues relating to GMOs, artificial preservatives, food coloring and more. Though I signed an NDA preventing me from sharing too much more, I hope to see some of the big changes they have in mind for the future come to fruition in the near future. It was a passionate conversation, that’s for sure!
During our time at the headquarters we also listened in on a presentation about the typical American diet that I found particularly interesting. Here are a few snapshots of the facts that caught my eye:
I think it’s interesting that Americans tend to focus more on the nutrition of their meals much more so than their afternoon/evening snacks. Snacking seems to be a time for reward/indulgence rather than another opportunity to get nutritious foods into our bodies. For me personally, I definitely find that I’m much more likely to grab something fast and less healthy during snack time than during breakfast, lunch or dinner, so I think this particular diagram fits me rather well.
Our final activity of the day took us to the General Mills photo studio and prop room where we were able to chat with food stylists and photographers for about an hour or so until we all had to head out to catch our evening flights home.
And there you have it — Less than 48 hours in Minnesota! I had a blast!
Questions of the Afternoon
- Do you identify at all with the above chart regarding meals/snacks? Which meal is it easiest for you to grab something nutritious during the day? Do you gravitate toward more or less healthy foods during certain snack or meal times?
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Great recap!! My favorite bloggers were just blocks from my office when you were at the museum!! Glad you had fun and you left just in time, today’s morning temp was -22 with the windchill.
So close!!!
That sounds like a fabulous trip!
You guys really fit in a lot during a short visit. I think it’s awesome General Mills reached out to you ladies to do this trip and give you more information about the company. And they seemed to know the way to a healthy-living bloggers heart is through his/her stomach. Right? 🙂
Oh my gosh, dippin dots with lucky charms?! YUM! Looks like such a fun trip, most of my favorite bloggers in one place! 🙂 I try to keep some healthy snacks with me majority of the time, but once in awhile I’ll splurge on a scone at starbucks or something not as ideal.
Such a fun group! Also, I’m drooling over that Lucky Charms desert! 🙂
I’m so glad you enjoyed your time in Minneapolis! The city has my heart as I went to the University of Minnesota and frequently ran across the Stone Arch Bridge (shown in a few of your pictures, right outside the Mill City Museum). It really is a healthy, active city and I hope that came across during your short visit!
We saw people running over that bridge when we were there! I was so impressed– it was only three degrees!! I’d love to come back and spend more time in the city!!
GM should have had you come in Summer or Fall when the scenery and weather are far better!
Too funny that you were dressed like Lucky! 😉
And I agree– I eat super healthy during the days, but nighttime is when I gravitate toward less healthy options. Late nights + studying/ time with friends) = some serious chocolate and ice creme cravings!
Sounds like a great trip!
On the question about the charts – I’m having trouble reconciling the data in the second chart (most important consideration at each meal) with the facts of obesity in the U.S. and the number of people who eat fast food. Anecdotally, based on the number of people I see in the fast food line at the end of the day or the people I talk to who never plan their meals for the week and usually just end up eating out, I find it hard to believe that 58% of people surveyed think “nutrition” is the most important consideration when making decisions about what to eat for dinner. I’d be interested in learning a bit more about that group of people understanding of “nutrition”. For instance, are they thinking “as long as it’s not cake, it’s nutritious!”, thus making Chick-fil-A an acceptable dinner choice? Or, are they truly thinking about the balance of protein/carbs/veggies/etc.?
I’d also love to see data broken down by day of the week. I know for me, Fridays and Saturdays are usually way more indulgent than any other day of the week, but I wonder if that’s true for others. I know some people who eat like crap on Monday because, hey, it’s Monday — gotta get through it however I can. Or on Friday because, hey, it’s Friday — I deserve a break!
Where was Meghann??
She couldn’t make it at the last minute!
Julie you have the greatest sense of style and I love your outfit in the group photo at the top.
I almost interned with General Mills right out of college as they are a huge recruiter at my alma mater- Johnson & Wales University.
Thank you so much!!
Glad you had the chance to experience Travail (not Trevail) 😉
The atmosphere is usually non-stop entertainment.
Too bad it was too cold for you to take a run around the chain of Lakes; Isles, Calhoun, and Harriet. They are amazing.
Just updated the spelling! Thanks!!
Wow–you guys fit in so much in 48 hours! Impressed! And I love that you said they had all those great family-friendly amenities (gyms, nursing rooms, infant care, etc.) SO cool.
Wow, what a fun visit!! I think that diagram about nutrition applies to me too! Sometimes the lure of dessert in the evening is too much for me (even though I know things like ice cream are not the most nutritious).
Such a great recap! I would love to go to Minneapolis! I was just telling my husband I desperately want to travel the United States. This would definitely be a stopping point!
It is easiest for me to eat healthier in the morning. It tends to go downhill as the day progresses. I think my stress level gets higher or I don’t have time to eat, so I get too hungry and make poor decisions. Also, if I eat an unhealthy breakfast, it is difficult to stay on track the rest of the day.
I cant wait to see the changes General Mills is making!
Wow! That’s wonderful that they provide so many benefits to their employees. I’m getting married in June and while I would love to have children sooner rather than later, the biggest concern is childcare. What a dream it would be to have a daycare center right where I work!
I think the diagrams you provided are SO interesting, especially the one about consumer concerns. I have the worst sweet tooth and finding alternatives that satisfy my cravings is still a difficulty. I thought I found the answer with artificial sweeteners until learning about all of the harmful chemicals. You can never win, huh? 🙂
For me, I tend to gravitate to more healthy snacks because they keep me full. If I munch on a cookie, I’ll be hungry 30 minutes later. If I eat a piece of fruit, I feel better about my choice and also stay full much longer!
I would have to agree with the chart. However, lately, we have had lunch provided for us a lot in the office. The meals include; Moe’s, Jimmy Johns, Pasta Express, Jett’s Pizza, and ballpark food (not healthy one bit but I won’t complain about free food!) So I try to eat a little better in the evening.
Bet it’s breakfast all day at General Mills 🙂 The food at the restaurant looks amazing!!!
The Minneapolis area is a terrific place to live – I wish you’d seen it a bit warmers so enjoy all our wonderful trails, parks and lakes!
I would love to come back!!
It looks like such a fun trip! I bet you are glad to be back to the “warm” NC weather. 🙂
I am very happy eating healthy meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If I do go unhealthy for a meal, it’s usually breakfast (hello pancakes, french toast, and bacon). Oh yea, I also have a deep love for DESSERT!
I’m really glad to hear that you were given the opportunity to give feedback about the ingredients General Mills uses!! While there have been great changes over the past couple of years, I think there’s a lot of progress to be made yet, even with Cheerios.
Glad you had a great time in MN! Other than the cold, it’s a really great place 🙂
So glad you got to come to Minneapolis! Wish I would have bumped into you! If you enjoyed it in February, you need to come back during the summer for the awesome trails, lakes and parks! Lots of running oportunities! The fall colors are amazing as well! 🙂
Umm can I get a personal skyway to walk around in the cold?? Love it! What an awesome facility they have, and all the food looks so delicious. Looks like an awesome time! Ps, the green blazer rocks.
That bar graph definitely describes my eating habits. I’m all about healthy foods at breakfast. My evening snacks are usually always more about guilty pleasures 🙂
This looks like such a cool trip!!! I definitely agree with the chart- I’m terrible about snacks. This week I bought some apples to have on hand and that helps me to have slightly healthier snacks!
So, so fun! Next time, I’m sneaking into your suitcase 😉
What a fun trip! Honey Nut Cheerios are where it’s at!
room service > hotel gym workouts. (for sure.)
Wow, what a great place to visit, lucky you! I’m jealous, looks like you had a great time.
That granola crust looks so delicious! They should really sell those bad boys (or do they already and I am missing out?)! What a fantastic company! I would say I eat the healthiest for my first 4 mini meals (I eat 5-6 mini meals per day). The reason is that I meal prep all of those meals. Dinner is the meal either my husband is in charge of, or that I make when I get home from a long day. It is also usually after a long day and night filled with 3-4 hours of a workout so I am usually very hungry. When I am prepared, I stick to the plan…my husband tends to veer off path when left alone and make a decision to get takeout or gets stuck at work and we are both left famished!
Sounds like a freezing and awesome experience! Cheerios have always been a cereal of choice in our house. I love that General Mills gave you the chance to see inside their operation! I thought those charts will really interesting! I completely identify with getting more nutrition earlier in the day but never looked at it that way. I try not to eat after dinner but when I do it’s usually dessert! Oops! Hope you are enjoying NC again!
PS 3 degrees is no joke!
Awesome recap, Julie! I think it’s awesome and super interesting that General Mills is really paying attention to the things customers are avoiding when purchasing pre-packaged foods. I wonder what this means for some of their future items!
I am SUCH a good eater at meal time. Any other unstructured eating is not necessarily unhealthy, I just eat more than I’m supposed to. Granola, popcorn, anything that has a lot in the bag…that doesn’t stand a chance in my kitchen! Munch munch munch 😉
Really interesting diagram at the bottom! I do find that if I have a snack after dinner, it is probably my least healthy food item of the day! haha.
Sounds like a fun (and cold!!!!) few days!!
My snacks and after dinner treats are definitely less well thought out and less healthy than my actual meals.
Fabulous group of bloggers you were in company with! Minneapolis is a fun town, just north of me in Iowa, and my sister and her family live there, so I get to visit! But you are right…..down right COLD. I am over this winter!
Sounds like an interesting trip, but I’m a bit disappointed (though not at all surprised) that GM would have you guys sign an NDA. This is in no way a negative comment against you or the other bloggers that attended the trip, but I was curious to hear more about GMs response to consumer concerns, since the point of the trip was to provide feedback and you all have quite the following to disperse said feedback. In other words, the fact that GM doesn’t want to come out and say that they are removing harmful food additives and/or GMOs, leads me to believe that they continue and will continue to use these for profit, as they have always done, despite consumer concern. Understanding that you cannot share with your readers exactly where this company is going and how they responded to the growing demands to remove harmful additives, I am curious as a reader where you stand with this and if there is anything further you can share about the company’s future. I’m sure you can tell from my comment, that it’s something I am incredibly passionate about =)
Gina wrote a little bit more about what GM had to say so you should read her recap also.
Hi Tori-Leigh! Definitely check out Gina’s post for her recap about GMOs (http://fitnessista.com)… She shared a little bit more than I did regarding GMOs specifically, as I really wasn’t sure what could be shared after signing the NDA. One thing I WILL say, is that on a personal level, I am REALLY happy with their future goals and the direction they hope to go regarding some of the things you mentioned above. I personally came in with questions about artificial colorings and preservatives and left feeling pleased with the company’s goals for the future. I wish I could share more, but if you don’t mind me emailing you at a later date, I’ll definitely follow up with you when I am legally allowed to do so!
Hey Julia, thanks for the response. I did read Gina’s post on it, and I’m glad that certain questions were raised, especially regarding prop 37. Unfortunately, GM’s comment about labeling GMOs on the federal level will never manifest, considering the FDA lives in Monsanto’s pocket. Ultimately, I hope the debate continues and that readers (both here and elsewhere) realize both sides of the debate and that GM certainly does have their own agenda. I am glad, though, to hear that these questions were raised, and I would totally appreciate an email when you’re legally allowed…I’d love to hear how these concerns are being addressed in the future. Thanks =)
Ive been reading about the trip and it looks like you guys had a great time! I would love to eat all of those things and the recipe contest looked really fun. When I snack it is usually healthy and the times when I am not are usually in meals like lunch or dinner. I eat pretty consistently, but I will definitely dig into some of my favorite foods on occasion.
Thanks for a great trip recap! Question do you feel that General Mills is concerned with GMO influence? Is it something they are aware of in regards to public concern?
What a great opportunity! I’m excited to see what the future holds wih GM and cereals. They produce some of my faves! Also, I need that skyway in my life, and well… everywhere in Michigan. 😉
Sounds like it was an awesome (quick) visit!! Thanks so much for sharing! It’s really so interesting to hear what brands are doing behind the scenes!