Kick-start the day with a nutritious breakfast

"One of the most important things you can do for your health is to eat five to 10 servings of vegetables and fruit a day," says Patti Payne, senior advisor of prevention at the Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division. "Making simple changes to the way you eat, along with becoming more active, are two of the best defences against many types of cancer."

Here are some quick, easy and tasty ways to add vegetables and fruit to your family's breakfast to help you start the day off on the right foot:

• Pour everyone a glass of 100 per cent fruit or vegetable juice.
• Sprinkle half a grapefruit with sugar and a touch of cinnamon.
• Top a whole grain bowl of cereal with sliced bananas, kiwi or fresh berries.
• Mix a bowl of low-fat yogurt with cut-up fruit.
• Eat a piece of fruit, such as an apple, banana or pear.
• Fill half a cantaloupe or honeydew melon with low-fat cottage cheese.
• Top half a whole grain bagel with apple slices, cinnamon and low-fat cheese; then broil until the cheese melts.
• Mix 250 mL (1 cup) of fresh or frozen fruit with 125 mL (1/2 cup) of low-fat yogurt and 125 mL (1/2 cup) fruit juice in a blender for a smoothie.