"Choosing
whole grain at breakfast is a great first step in starting your
day off on the right track," says Dr. Travis Stork, author and
host of the Emmy Award-winning daytime talk show "The Doctors."
"When grocery shopping, look for foods that list whole grain at
the top of the ingredients list."
Plenty of nutritious breakfast options will please any palate
and pack a whole-grain punch, such as oatmeal and whole grain
cereal, toast, waffles and pancakes.
Only 5 percent of Americans get the recommended three full daily
servings of whole grain, according to the 2010 Dietary
Guidelines Advisory Committee. In fact, the average person gets
little more than half a serving of whole grain each day.
"It's concerning that Americans aren't getting enough whole
grain, a key component of a healthy diet," says Stork. "Eating
the recommended amount of whole grain can help with diabetes and
weight management as well as reduce the risk of heart disease."
Stork is partnering with General Mills to educate Americans
about the importance of whole grain and how it's easy to eat a
diet rich in whole grain by making the right choices - beginning
with breakfast.
Only whole grain provides vital nutrients found in the complete
grain - including the bran, the germ and the endosperm - and the
health benefits come from these three components working
together naturally. In addition to fiber, whole grain contains
antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and other important nutrients
for a healthy diet.
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One of the
simplest breakfast solutions for families with busy schedules is
ready-to-eat cereal - but it's also one of the healthiest breakfast
choices you can make. Cereal is the leading whole grain source for
Americans as well as the top source of whole grain in children's
diets. In fact, General Mills guarantees every Big G cereal - such
as Cheerios, Lucky Charms and Chex - contains at least 8 grams of
whole grain per serving.
To learn more about the benefits of whole grain and eating a healthy
breakfast, visit www.wholegrainnation.com.
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