Cereal provides good nutrition

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Eating a nutritious breakfast helps people maintain a healthy weight, provides the fuel the body needs for optimal physical and mental performance and provides important nutrients, such as fiber, vitamins and minerals that people might not otherwise consume during the course of the day.

Did you know? Scientific evidence has shown a link between eating a higher-fiber diet and a wide variety of health benefits including a reduced risk of heart disease, improved weight management and better digestive health.

"A nutritious breakfast is particularly important for children, as it improves both their physical performance and mental alertness," states Celeste Clark, Senior Vice President, Global Nutrition and Corporate Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer. "Research has shown that a child's learning abilities are directly affected by skipping breakfast and that essential nutrients missed at breakfast are not usually compensated for during the other meals of the day."

While many of us recognize cereal as good nutrition, did you know that ready-to-eat cereal and milk is the leading source of 10 nutrients in the diet of U.S. children? It's unlikely that any other two foods contribute so much to the diet.

And if that isn't reason enough to pour yourself a bowl of cereal right now, cereal also accounts for just four percent of our total caloric intake while delivering important nutrients including iron, riboflavin, calcium, B vitamins and vitamins A and D. Cereal is a typically low-fat, nutrient-dense food, which helps explain why cereal eaters, including children, tend to have lower BMIs and are less likely to be overweight than those who eat cereal less frequently.

Cereal provides important nutrition for everyone, regardless of their life stage. It's a great-tasting way for children to get valuable nutrients they might not otherwise get. Cereal provides necessary iron, calcium, fiber and folic acid to women of child-bearing age. And the nutrient density of cereal also benefits the older adults by ensuring they get necessary nutrients for relatively few calories, which is important as their caloric needs decline, but their nutrition needs do not.

Kellogg is a leading provider of cereals that deliver at least a good source of fiber, an ingredient nine out of 10 American adults and children do not get enough of in their diets. Cereal grains contain natural antioxidants and fiber that may help lower cholesterol for better heart health and protect against chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes.

Kellogg's cereals deliver on consumers' specific nutrition needs, from All-Bran for digestive health to Special K for weight management and Smart Start and Kashi Heart to Heart for heart health. So whether you're looking to eat healthier, increase the amount of fiber in your diet, or just looking for a tasty meal or snack, cereal is a healthy and nutritious way to start your day.

Now that you've learned the nutritional benefits of cereal, be sure to check back tomorrow and put your knowledge to the test with a fact vs. myth section on common misconceptions about cereal.