Cereals have developed a lot over the nearly four decades that I’ve spent demolishing them by the bowlful.
Gone is the focus on toys and treats that you can find amongst the flakes, replaced by better, more sensible grain choices and an emphasis on making you morning meal packed with nutritional elements at the expense of sugar.
That doesn’t mean that we can’t make a list of the best breakfast cereals, with little regard spent on anything but how they taste, and the feelings that they conjure in your memory.
This may be a trip down memory lane or a glimpse into the current contents of your pantry, but suffice to say, cereal is awesome (at any time of day).
Cereal
Cap’n Crunch
By now, you would have read mention of my friend Pete in other 12 Tomatoes stories. He first introduced me to Cap’n Crunch when I stopped through Venice Beach on a trip to Vegas. Pete even did an impression of the Cap’n, which was horrifying and engrossing at once.
It took all of my will not to eat the whole carton – I had been on a plane for 11 hours – but Pete let me take the box with me when I left.
I love the taste, but more than anything else I think Cap’n Crunch’s ability to stay crisp despite being submerged in a bowl filled with milk is what sets it apart from all other cereals.
Honey Nut Cheerios
The second most popular cereal in the US (Original Cheerios are more popular) I’ll take Honey Nut flavor every day of the week. In fact, this is the only ‘secondary’ cereal brand on the list.
Sweeter than the original due to the addition of natural honey and almond flavor, Honey Nut cheerios no longer use real nuts.
The brand changed course in 2006 due to the proliferation of nut allergies amongst consumers, switching their flavor mix to come from the pits of peaches and almonds instead.
Frosted Flakes
Look, I understand that Frosted Flakes may not be the most healthy breakfast cereal around, after all they are corn flakes covered in sugar, but Tony Tiger never lets you down.
When you’re rumbling through the fridge and pantry but come up empty, you know exactly what you will be getting from a box of Frosted Flakes, featuring the world’s happiest tiger on the box.
Frosted Flakes remind me of Saturday morning cartoons and the days with no responsibilities. Sigh…
Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Cinnamon Toast Crunch is pretty handy to keep in the cupboard. I like how the flavor mixes well with milk, and it’s usually a good go to for the kids when they can’t figure out what they want to eat.
There’s now a huge variety in flavors to choose from, but I like to keep it simple because I don’t like standing frozen in the aisle at the supermarket, staring at two cereal cartons for 15 minutes when they are almost exactly the same.
Kashi Go
Now that I’m in a different phase of life – in between the sugary cereal of my youth and the heavy duty bran of my future – I’ve found the various Kashi Go cereals to be in line with my dietary needs.
High in energy, high in protein and fiber, and low in sugar, the different types of Kashi cereal are geared towards improving your health and well being, and they come in different flavors too.
Froot Loops
I enjoy Froot Loops because sometimes you have to smash your kids in a breakfast eating contest with brightly colored grains at the encouragement of a friendly toucan.
Froot Loops were also my daytime food during my time at university (ramen noodles were my night time food).
Wheaties
Sure, they are arguably the most boring item on this list – 100% whole grain and all that – but Wheaties remain legitimately awesome.
Plus, the brand’s association with superstar athletes, the first being Lou Gehrig in 1934, is the most wholesome method of sponsorship you can find.
Check out this awesome Michael Jordan Wheaties ad from 1989!
Raisin Bran
I understand that fiber is important for keeping me regular, and it’s important to eat the right grains to keep everything below deck moving in the right direction.
I guarantee that for me to eat bran – with any semblance of enthusiasm – it has to take as many super delicious raisins (sultanas here in Australia) that I can finagle from the carton, or it’s not going to happen.
Rice Krispies
Snap, crackle, and pop. That’s what breakfast is all about!
Rice Krispies are also the most versatile cereal in the world. You can use them in millions of delicious baked good recipes and yummy treats, and other innovative uses (a friend of mine works in television sound effects and they have a healthy rice krispie budget).
Special K
It wasn’t until I was older that I realized that Special K was a cereal pitched almost exclusively to women.
All I remember was that we always had a carton in the pantry, and I was always hungry enough to demolish a bowl full, and not just at breakfast time.
We certainly live in times much different to 1991, when this ad was one of the most popular on television.
Honey Bunches of Oats
If you like a mix of different breakfast cereal types in one bowl, then Honey Bunches of Oats may be just what you’re looking for.
Post Cereals employee Vernon J. Herzing is acknowledged with creating Honey Bunches of Oats by combining a range of different ones and trying them out on his cereal loving daughter until they found the perfect tasting combination.
Three different flakes, oat clusters, and honey does taste pretty good!
Mini-Wheats
There’s not much more to say about mini wheats except they are beautiful little pillows of wheat, all covered in sugar!
When I was young I used to like pulling mini-wheats apart before they went in my milk, although for what reason I couldn’t tell you.
Enjoyable.
Conclusion
These are my favorite breakfast cereals, some of which I haven’t eaten for years. They still live fresh in my memory of a youth (and adulthood) spent eating flakes by the carton.
What do you think is the best breakfast cereal?