(NC)—We all know breakfast is the “most important meal of the day”…or have we forgotten? Canadian families are facing a breakfast crisis. Whether it's because of early morning hockey practice, picky eating habits or body issues, a growing number of kids are heading off to school on an empty stomach.

(NC)—A wholesome, nutritious breakfast provides fuel for children's bodies, kick starts the day and keeps it going until lunchtime. But between getting ready for work and packing the kids' lunch boxes, parents sometimes struggle to prepare a full breakfast every morning. A nutritious breakfast needs to be high on the morning priority list. Clinical evidence shows kids and adolescents who consume a healthy breakfast have better academic performance and attentiveness, improved cognition skills, a reduced risk of becoming overweight or obese, and have more healthful diet habits and better diet quality.

Quality calories
When it comes to our body fuel, it makes sense to be selective. At this time of year for example, patio party snacks like veggies dipped into avocado-rich guacamole and tomato-based salsas are a sound nutritional choice as compared to the more traditional chips and dips.

(NC)—Nothing helps keep summer's sizzle alive into the fall quite like smashing and spicing Ontario new potatoes. These bite-sized spuds have a light crunch and just the right amount of chili spice. Smashing potatoes with a meat mallet is not only a great stress reliever, breaking the skin helps the flavour penetrate the whole spud.