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Tempe, Arizona (NAPSI) - Calling breakfast the most important meal of the day is no exaggeration. Without breakfast, your metabolism can suffer, performance and concentration are apt to decrease, and hunger throughout the day can result in overeating during future meals.

In addition to nutrition, a growing number of consumers are finding that there are other aspects of breakfast that are important. For them, making the most of breakfast includes watching how they spend their money and not wasting anything they buy. To help, here are some tips on how to get the most out of your breakfast—and your money.

• When prices go higher, find a thrifty way to keep your breakfast necessities—Higher food prices don’t necessarily mean you have to forgo any of your favorite morning staples. Try out some of the better value brands, such as Mom’s Best or Malt-O-Meal. You can often find the more economical brands on the highest and lowest shelves in the aisle.

• Use food in a variety of ways—If you use your food in a variety of ways, you’ll find that you can make the most out of just about everything in the kitchen. For example, bread that has gone slightly stale might not make the best sandwich but it can often be used to make excellent French toast.

To get even more out of your cereal, such as Oat Blenders or Golden Puffs, try putting some in yogurt or using them as a substitute for breadcrumbs or as a topping for a dinner casserole.

• Compost—According to the EPA, Americans diverted a mere 5 percent of the 36 million tons of food waste from landfills in 2012. Instead of contributing to these dismal recovery rates, start to save your uneaten food scraps for the compost bin. Items such as uncooked veggies left over from a morning omelet, used coffee grounds and their filters, or eggshells make additions to any compost. Not only will you prevent these items from going to a landfill, but you’ll be getting the most out of your morning meals by turning uneaten portions into a more beautiful yard or garden.

• Think twice about packaging—According to the experts at TerraCycle, food packaging can be more than just a container. For example, you can clean and save packaging to be recycled for creative DIY projects. MOM Brands cereal has developed a series of engaging ways to recycle your packaging that can keep the family busy until lunch.

TerraCycle is a leader in the collection and reuse of nonrecyclable, postconsumer waste. To learn about how you can get the most out of your cereal and recycle the bag it comes in, go to www.TerraCycle.com.