TORONTO, Aug. 13, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- There's a reason why breakfast is perceived as such an important meal. Breakfast provides the energy and nutrients needed to "break the fast" and fuel your body and mind after a 12-hour slump without food. People who skip the morning meal miss out on important vitamins and minerals, which generally can't be made up later in the day. For children and adolescents in particular, eating breakfast is linked to improved concentration and mental alertness in the morning hours. If you choose cereal, it only takes a few minutes to ensure you're ready for the day!
Nutrient rich. Most breakfast cereals are fortified with vitamins and minerals to help people reach their recommended intakes. Add milk and you've got an excellent way to add vital calcium to the diet. And many cereals supply these essential nutrients with typically only a modest amount of calories.
Typically low in fat. Breakfast cereals can help adults who are watching their fat intakes and support overall weight management. Eating breakfast has been associated with lower body mass index (BMI) and reduced prevalence of obesity.
An important source of whole grains. Breakfast cereals help people increase their intake of whole grains, such as whole grain, whole wheat, whole corn grain, and whole grain rolled oats. For many breakfast cereals, a 30 gram portion counts as one serving of Grain Products from Canada's Food Guide.
An important source of fibre. Breakfast cereal is an easy way to help people meet their daily recommended intakes for fibre.
Variety & value. Cereal comes in a variety of choices to suit even the pickiest taste buds – and at a fraction of the cost of many other breakfast options. Quickly prepared or eaten on-the-go, it's a convenient and affordable choice for today's busy families.
Sugar in perspective. Breakfast cereals, including pre-sweetened varieties, contribute only five per cent of the added sugar in the diets of children.
A modest amount of sodium. Breakfast cereals account for just three per cent of the average Canadian daily sodium intake.
Download your Morning Crunch Time "Thrival" Guide – containing tips and ideas to make your mornings go smoother – at www.morningcrunchtime.ca.
About Breakfast Cereals Canada
Breakfast Cereals Canada (BCC) represents the four leading manufacturers of breakfast cereals in Canada: General Mills Canada, Kellogg Canada Inc., Post Foods Canada Inc., and Quaker Canada. The companies joined together in 2007 to serve as a voice for breakfast cereals and to take a leadership role in enabling more Canadians to enjoy the benefits of breakfast cereal as a nutritious part of their diets.
In Canada, the ready-to-eat breakfast cereal market is valued at more than $1 billion, and cereal has become a staple of Canadian cupboards, with 93 per cent of Canadian households purchasing ready-to eat-cereal.
Breakfast cereals have a long food history that is grounded in science, and the industry has a demonstrated commitment to providing healthy, nutritious and innovative cereal products.
For more information about Breakfast Cereals Canada visit www.breakfastcereals.ca.
For more information and to book an interview with a registered dietitian or Breakfast Cereals Canada spokesperson, please contact:
Laurie Hall
laurie@felicitypr.com
(416) 696-5554
Kevin Morrison
kevin@felicitypr.com
(416) 856-9807
This information was brought to you by Cision http://www.cisionwire.com
http://www.cisionwire.com/breakfast-cereals-canada/r/breakfast-cereals-canada-fact-sheet,c9291400
The following pictures are available for download:
| [Image] | Breakfast Cereals Canada |