Cereal is one of the most popular breakfast items on the market, consumed by some 290 million Americans annually.
Today is National Cereal day, a day to celebrate the versatile food.
Now not only is cereal eaten for breakfast, but it has become a popular bedtime snack. Some people even enjoy a bowl for an evening meal. Bakers turn to cereal in their cake, cookie, and bar recipes. The most popular one is Rice Crispy Bar Treats.
The first breakfast cereal was produced in 1863 of granola. Later, John Harvey Kellogg brought Cornflakes to market in 1895, creating a competitive and highly lucrative food business.
Early cereals were generally clean, made of pressed products like corn, wheat, and oats, but by the 1950s cereals became much more sugary, adding lines like Frosted Flakes and the iconic Tony the Tiger. The trend continued into the 70s with products like Count Chocula, Fruity Pebbles and Cocoa Pebbles.
Now there are more than 1,000 brands of cereal worldwide.
Cereal’s popularity has a lot to do with the many ways it can be eaten. Most people eat cereal in a bowl with mile (cereal first, milk poured on top, of course), but it’s also possible to eat it dry. It can be consumed for a meal like breakfast, but also eaten little by little, as snacks and deserts.
Have a good time eating your favorite cereal today, and check out our latest Tik Tok, which includes a taste test of popular cereals.
