*The average American eats about ten pounds of cereal a year.
*In the mid-1800s a high protein diet was blamed for fueling “lust and laziness” – two of the seven deadly sins.
*Grape-nuts today is probably the closest you’ll get to the original granula.
*Nostalgia is one reason why adults love cold cereal and milk – it reminds them of their childhood.
*Milk contributes to a cold cereal breakfast – it adds protein, calcium, and vitamins.
*Lactose-free people often replace the milk in their cereal with almond, coconut, soy, or oat milk. They can also use lactose-free milk.
*In a study by Adolphus, Hoyland, Walton, Lawton, and Dye they concluded that “consuming breakfast has a positive acute effect on cognition in adolescents.”
*In 1944 General Mills advertised by claiming breakfast is the most important meal of the day. They handed out pamphlets and made radio announcements. It’s a myth! Breakfast is as important as other meals.
*Cheerios were originally called Cheerioats.
*In 1971 cartoon characters Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble began promoting Fruity and Coco Pebbles.
*Grape-nuts were the first big product to offer coupons.
*The word “cereal” comes from the Roman goddess of harvest and agriculture, Ceres.
*Approximately 50% of Americans begin their day with a bowl of cereal.
*During the pandemic as more people stayed home and reduced on-the-go and fast-food breakfasts, cereal consumption grew significantly. Sales were up 12% from the year prior.
*Kellogg’s Corn Flakes was the cereal eaten aboard Apollo 11, which made the first lunar landing.
*According to Changing America, the top four largest cereal brands are:
Cheerios: 139.1 million boxes sold
Frosted Flakes: 132.3 million boxes sold
Honey Nut Cheerios: 129.3 million boxes sold
Honey Bunches of Oats: 111.3 million boxes sold
Yep! Cereal is indeed nostalgic for me, and I, like so many others, love a bowl of cereal with cold milk… But as your article so deftly points out, so much of it is about the advertising. One of the most interesting examples of spin ever. The cereal boxes that say you get X amount of such and such vitamin… With a (full cup of vitamin D milk added) in small print. Yep, spin! Having said that, now that I’ve read your article I want a nice bowl of Cheerios with cold milk!