(ARA) – Getting a good start to your day takes a lot more than the alarm going off at the right time and avoiding traffic. What you eat in the morning can have an effect on your whole day – and your health.

“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.

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.