NESTLé Jamaica last Friday announced that all its breakfast cereals are now made with whole grain, this as evidence continues to grow about the health benefits of the grains.

The move forms part of what the company said are “efforts to provide consumers with healthier food choices and greatly improve the value of the first meal of the day”.

From Nesquik to Fitness, Nestlé is serving up options to improve one’s nutritional intake by offering its line of cereals in whole grains. As part of the new initiative, all packages will carry a new Nestlé Whole Grain logo – including a large green banner – to help identify the breakfast cereals.

The cereals have been appearing on supermarket shelves since Monday.

“Being the most important meal of the day, a balanced and full breakfast is essential for the whole family, and especially for kids,” the company said.

“While no one food alone makes a perfect breakfast, the facts about cereals make them a good nutritional choice.

Independent research indicates that when children and adults eat ready-to-eat cereals for breakfast, they eat not only less fat and cholesterol for breakfast, but their diets for the entire day are lower in fat and cholesterol and they consume significantly greater amounts of fibre and several essential vitamins and minerals,” Nestlé added.

Nutritionists and other health practitioners have long touted the many health benefits of whole grains that include helping to maintain a healthy heart and a healthy body weight.

“There is growing interest in the foods we eat and how they can contribute to a healthier diet,” said nutritionist Patricia Fletcher at last Friday’s breakfast launch at the Knutsford Court Hotel. “Along those lines, a growing body of research from independent and international nutrition experts indicates that diets rich in whole grains are good for general health and can help manage body weight.”

A whole grain is the entire edible portion of any grain whether it is corn, wheat, rice, oats or others. Whole grain includes all the parts of the grain: the germ (inner part), the endosperm (middle layer), and the bran (outer shell).

Refined grains usually contain only the endosperm. According to the US Dietary Guidelines Committee report (August 2004), in order to know whether cereals contain whole grain, consumers should look for the word “whole” or “complete” in the ingredients listing.

Like fruits and vegetables, whole grains are said to contain a powerful mix of essential nutrients such as antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fibre and protein. Additionally, the complex carbohydrates, fibre and protein contained in the grains slow the release of energy into the body, providing fuel for families to get through the entire morning.

Consumers are encouraged to eat at least three servings of whole grains each day.