Cereal: It's Not Just for Breakfast

Cereal: it's not just for breakfast - or, is that pizza! 😂 After giving a-go to the hot breakfast line at college a time or two, I enjoyed plenty of the cereal bar as well. It was self-serve, which in many ways made it more convenient, especially as I’d be anxious, which meant I’d have difficulties with eating, & I couldn’t get back in to eat later on at the cafeteria, as my meal would have been swiped from my ID card already, & I’d also likely have classes or other arrangements at the later breakfast times too, so easing into the cereal routine seemed sensible for me. Skipping out on breakfast I've tried a time or two in my day, though I've learned it's really not best for me (unless I'm uber anxious, & then I'm likely skipping out on much more than just my breakfast meal).

I know I initially began with these because it’s something that we’d have in the cupboards at Mom & Dad’s house. Dad liked to eat ultra-bran & often; these would be acceptable & routinely came around. They were the more socially acceptable 😊 version of these & even these, which is with what Dad typically had the cereal portion of the family pantry packed full. They must have had multiple manufacturer’s coupons for them, which is what would’ve had them in our kitchen cupboards ultimately. (I know how my parents think. 😊)

This brings us to this cereal. It's definitely one from my childhood. My parents have never been opposed to processed food even though they eagerly welcome every neighborhood farmer's market into their day's schedule. (Dad would often stop at a local one enroute back to the house from work, as Mom would be prepping our family's dinner.) As mentioned here, having grown us plenty of food, most especially fruit, in our backyard, our pantry of cereal options were quite the backdrop, or "fill in" for our options, all things breakfast, as well as, well, whenever. If we'd need a snack to take somewhere, a sandwich bag-sized portion, or something similar, these cereals would provide for an adequate quick reach. Especially this one with its pop-'em-in-your-mouth, fits-snug-in-the-palm-of-your-hand snack style.

Although this cereal ran a little bit more $ at the register. It always needed to be purchased with manufacturer's coupons & only when it went on sale. My brother didn't bother with it. Either he knew I preferred it that much more, or he didn't actually like it. Either way, no matter. Mom wasn't much of a cereal eating person, & Dad stuck to these 😂. Dad was very big on fiber for breakfast. I think that protein was a major after thought. Sugar is the big ingredient that both Mom & Dad fought to keep out of our breakfast food, though these were the days before households were educated & encouraged to read box ingredient labels & not eat those where any ingredients weren't pronounceable. Besides, they (the cereal manufacturer's) were adding in sugars in disguise of various types, among them the ever-popular HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup 😠). Most of the companies have removed many of these horrible sugars-in-disguise from their product line now-a-days, though they're still a processed food.

When I noticed this on the cereal bar I got excited & began eating it as if it were the only food available on the entire college campus & that I was completely famished. Yep, I gorged. Big time. It was delicious! 😋😂 I watched as other students would take the nearby Styrofoam cups meant for on-the-go hot beverages (the hot water for tea & hot cocoa, as well as coffee were neighboring) & fill the cups up with the cereal pieces. When this cereal sits out too long, it softens a bit, not hardens. So either way, having it in my dorm room was a treat - well, it was for the few days it lasted. The college couldn't afford the cereal regularly on its bar anymore than Mom & Dad could afford to lodge it in their kitchen cupboard. While I was away in class & studying, other students who also craved this favorite, helped finish it off. Darn! I had to share! 

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