Raise Your Spoon (and Bowl): It’s National Cereal Day!

Quick! Grab your bowls, spoons, and favorite type of milk, it’s National Cereal Day!

Did you know that toward the end of the 19th century, cereal became America’s most popular breakfast food? With so many different tastes, textures, colors, brands, and shapes of cereal to choose from, no wonder it is so wildly popular and enjoyed by the masses daily.

Cereal can be a great source of fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Adding cereal to your daily morning routine can even be protective against diseases like heart disease and diabetes. But it’s important to remember that not all cereals are created equal. Many kinds of cereal can be packed with added sugars, refined grains, and even make “health” claims that are completely false.

Choosing the Right Cereal

While shopping for cereal, it’s important to pay close attention to nutrition labels and ingredient lists to know what’s really in your bowl. Here are four things to look out for the next time you’re shopping for your next box of cereal:

Watch thesugar. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends limiting the amount of added sugars. To stay in line with this recommendation, try choosing a breakfast cereal that has under 5 grams of sugar per serving.

Go for whole grain.Check out the ingredients list to see if the words whole grain is there. Whole grain is an excellent source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, which are all great for your health.

Aim for more fiber.Breakfast cereals that contain at least 3 grams of fiber per serving are great! Fiber is great for lowering your cholesterol, maintaining healthy bowels, and protecting against diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Again, check out the nutrition facts to see just how much fiber you’re working with!

Check the Ingredients (they don’t lie). While the “health claims” on the front of the box may seem convincing- the ingredients do not lie! Ingredients are listed from the most to the least according to their weight. Check out the first two or three ingredients. This is what makes up a majority of the cereal! If all you see is sugar, refined grains, and more sugar- go for a different box.

4 Fun Ways to Eat Cereal

Now, when you think of eating cereal, I’m sure you just think of the classic cereal and milk, right? Believe it or not, cereal can be used in a ton of unique ways! In honor of National Cereal Day, here are four ways to enjoy cereal (outside of just cereal, milk, and a spoon):

Snack Mix. Gather your favorite mix-ins like nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and don’t forget cereal! This makes for a perfect on-the-go snack that’s packed with a nutritional punch. Make it unique to your taste buds- salty, sweet, savory. The combinations are endless. Skip the store-bought snack mix and try making your own!

Homemade Cereal Bars. Mix Greek yogurt, vanilla, and honey together. Line this combination on the bottom of a loaf pan and pour your favorite cereal (recommendation: Cheerios) onto the yogurt. Freeze your cereal milk bars for about 4 to 8 hours and enjoy a unique twist on cereal and milk.

Yogurt Parfait. Grab your favorite brand of yogurt and layer a cup with different sliced fruits and your favorite whole-grain cereal. This is a quick and easy breakfast that includes lots of great textures and flavors!

Use as a breading. This may seem strange, but blending any unsweetened, whole-grain cereal makes for a great breading to use for proteins like chicken. Next time you want an alternative to the classic bread crumb- reach for your box of cereal!

Whether cereal has been a staple in your daily morning routine or not, mark your calendars and pour up a bowl of your favorite cereal on March 7th for National Cereal Day. Use this day to check out your cereal box’s ingredients labels, try a new brand of cereal, or even get creative in the kitchen by using your favorite cereal in a new, unique way. Whatever you decide, let’s raise our spoons (and bowls) to National Cereal Day!

Your Turn to Action: What new cereal recipe are you going to try? Let me know in the comments below.