Breakfast Cereal from Your Childhood

[Perilagu Khan]

What was your fav?

My cereal days--as opposed to my salad days--were about 1972 through 1979. Over that period I'd say my consistent favorite was Kellogg's Sugar Corn Pops. Hell, I don't know if they even make 'em anymore.

[Ruthie789]

Captain Crunch or Honeycombs served up with a tall glass of Tang. My parents let us eat a lot of sugar and never saw fresh orange juice in the house. Could not do this today!(Circa 1967)

[Jpan99]

I'm dating myself here, but I loved Kaboom. After that I could live on Frosted Flakes followed by Sugar Smacks and Sugar Pops. Yep, loved me some sugar.

[JonParker]

Jim Leff (the founder of Chowhound for you newbies) is a huge Quisp fan. In the great Quisp vs. Quake vote I came down heavily on the side of Quake, mostly because his mail-in prize was far better (a beanie with a propeller vs. a helmet with an actual working flashlight).

[jester99]

peanut butter captain crunch has always been a consistent favorite from childhood and only sugary cereal i was allowed as a kid. High school i discovered monster Cereal, Chocoula>Frankenberry>booberry. I unshamelessly come Halloween at least buy a box of each.

College was mainly cinnamon toast crunch and reese peanut butter puffs
btw, cereal+milk+scoop of ice cream= great dessert.

[sharonlouk]

Applejacks
Capn Crunch with Crunch Berries
Team Flakes

[lynnthetwin]

Does anyone remember Double Nut Crunch, not sure who made it but it looked like chex cereal, kind of octagon shaped...had the best taste and crunch! Like Frosted Flakes it made the milk taste yummo!

[Perilagu Khan]

The name does sound familiar.

[mpjmph]

Double Dip Crunch, maybe?
http://www.mrbreakfast.com/cereal_det...

[lynnthetwin]

Thats it! I totally don't remember it being called that but the description is right. This cereal should make a comeback!

[chefj]

Kaboom nott my favorite but the colors really made an impression

[Jpan99]

Loved Kaboom!

[Sparklebright]

My fave was definitely Puffed Wheat.
In those days it came in a ginormous bag that lasted forever.
The best parts were the last few bowlfuls that had a lot of bran and salt settlings from the entire bag.

[Harters]

Weetabix.

Had it just about every day as a child, through my teens and a little beyond.

I can recall, with absolute certainty, the last time I had it. 12 August 1972 - the day I got married and left home.

Vile, horrible stuff.

[Florida Hound]

LOL!!! Great post!! I am sure it could be the makings of its own thread, and it could be labeled, "Vile, horrible stuff." Gotta love it. Thanks, Harters.

[Perilagu Khan]

I presume the epithet doesn't refer to his wife.

[Emme]

Raisin Bran
Raisin Bran Crunch
Complete Bran Flakes
Apple Jacks
Honey Nut Cheerios
Corn Pops
Cap'n Crunch
...didn't really like any of them with milk... if i had to, i would take the milk in a side cup and spoon it on a little at a time, or take a bite of cereal and sip of milk... but really dry was so much better. still is.

[GraceW]

We weren't allowed sugar cereals... except on vacation we were allowed to have those little boxes that come with multiple kinds of cereals. Unfortunately for us (I was one of several kids..) there was only one Cocoa-Krispies...

[tcamp]

Surprised to find only one mention of my childhood fav, Raisin Bran.

Backups were Fortified Oats, Rice Krispies, and Grapenuts. Every once in a blue moon, I'd get Apple Jacks. Yum.

[HillJ]

My sons love Raisin Bran, the Post version. My brothers would have considered RB too healthy, more for adults. Funny how times can change things. Grapenuts was like eating pebbles and we all worried we'd break a tooth on it. Rice Krispies were for making bars with marshmallow and butter.

[Cheese Boy]

Loved Grapenuts cereal too.

I'd like to try making this pudding --> http://www.mygourmetconnection.com/re...

[Sra. Swanky]

Mmmm -- it's a great recipe. I made it for my Grapenuts-loving Dad -- he loved it. Try it! Grapenuts pudding is a huge New England thing. Here's the recipe I used - it's a little more pudding-like. Great with a dollop of whipped cream.

GRAPENUT PUDDING

1 quart milk, scalded
1 cup Grape-Nuts cereal
4 large eggs
scant 1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon unsalted butter (approx.)
Whole nutmeg
Water
Heat oven to 350°. In a medium-size bowl, pour scalded milk over Grape-Nuts and let sit 5 minutes. In a second medium-size bowl, beat eggs, sugar, vanilla, and salt. Add egg mixture to milk and Grape-Nuts and stir well. Pour into a buttered 2-quart casserole dish. Generously grate nutmeg over the top. Place the casserole into a deep roasting pan. Place in the oven and pour water into the roasting pan, enough to reach halfway up the side of the casserole. Bake 45 to 60 minutes, until almost set in the center (very slight jiggle).

[HillJ]

Other than the listing of butter and no cinnamon it's the identical recipe Sra. S.

[Sra. Swanky]

I was just going by the photo of the 1st recipe - it looks a bit stiffer.

[Cheese Boy]

This is probably DELICIOUS !! Would love to try it.

[Sra. Swanky]

It is awesome! Enjoy it!

[HillJ]

That custard recipe just might make me change my mind about Grape Nuts!

[Bacardi1]

I wasn't thinking much about hot cereals, but do remember "Maypo"; the commercials had a cartoon little kid in a big floppy cowboy hat.

[HillJ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_0qsG...

Still a part of my breakfast!

[Crockett67]

We always had raisin bran and some form of cheerios.

On occasion it would be:
Life
Kixs
Corn Pops
Honey Puffs
Fruit Loops
Golden Grams
Captian Crunch
Strawberry Shortcake cereal - <3
Frosted Miniwheats
Fruit Filled Miniwheats - <3

[Novelli]

Ralston cream of wheat for hot and Sun Flakes for cold.

I don't even know if they make these anymore.

[mucho gordo]

Am I the only one here that liked Kellogg's Pep? I sometimes think they still make it under the Special K" name.

[wadejay26]

My father ate PEP everyday of the week. We kids had to eat it when there was nothing else in the cupboard. Talk about a boring cereal. My father switched to Frosted Flakes when we could no longer find PEP.

[MacTAC]

My memories of eating Pep usually included banana, sugar and cream along with the milk. I seem to remember liking it.

[happybaker]

Here's a posting that made my heart pitter pat - Serious Eats did an article on Gramercy Tavern's cereal bar.

Oh good heavens - it looks awesome!

http://www.seriouseats.com/2012/08/gr...

[buttertart]

Shreddies. And Frosted Flakes out of the box for snacks. Alpha-bits.

[Cheese Boy]

I think I've run the gamut when it comes to breakfast cereals, but as I'm reading the replies upthread, it's surprising to see how many of you were NOT allowed any sugar cereals in your home. We were allowed sugar cereals, but we were also encouraged and expected to eat the savory offerings as well. Cream of Wheat, oatmeal, polenta, and even wheat germ were all in the rotation. Corn Flakes and Cheerios were there too, and they were usually accompanied by berries or some other fresh fruit. The question that begs to be asked is, "Do any of you who were denied sugar cereals as children, now eat them as adults?".

[Veggo]

My 4 siblings were welcome to all the sweet crap - I always preferred sugarless. I'm amazed at how what must have been a lot of wild-eyed, sugar crazed, bouncing off the wall kids became responsible citizens posting here...

[browndogs2]

I didn't/don't & we don't have them in the house for our small kids, either.

That said, I'm not militant about sugar, etc. It's just that if I'm going to have sugar or even junk food at times, for myself or my kids, it's from other categories. :)

[happybaker]

My dad never had sugared cereal as a kid. First - not that many available at the time he was a kid! And second - his mom felt sugar was unhealthy, not many baked goods happening at their house, and he tended to prefer savory items anyway.

That said, as a senior, one of his favorite treats turned out to be a bowl of sugar frosted flakes with milk. He had them more as an evening snack than a meal, but he loved them!

[Perilagu Khan]

We had all the sugared cereals we could stand--and we stood a lot--as kiddos, but now I don't much cotton to the stuff. The Khantessa recently brought home a box of Frosted Mini Wheat and I gave 'em a shot. Too dam' sweet. If I'm gonna eat cereal these days it'll probably one of the Chex and I don't mean Vaclav Havel.

[Bacardi1]

I was a sprout in the 50's/60's, & my favorites were CocoPuffs, Coco-Krispies, Grapenuts, Cheerios, & Alphabits/Lucky Charms, if I remember correctly. For the most part, my parents would bring home a box of something healthy (like Cheerios &/or Grapenuts, AllBran, etc., etc.) that they'd dress up with fresh fruit, & then a box of something sweet as a sort of breakfast treat for us. Worked out well for everyone. :)

[Bacardi1]

I forgot about good old "Shredded Wheat" - the original in the big "bars", not the current "mini's". Loved that too!

[jmcarthur8]

I loved Cream of Wheat and oatmeal, especially the next day when my mother would reheat the leftovers in milk in a pan on the stove, and there would be lumps of the cereal in the warm milk.

[jbsiegel]

Lumpy Cream of Wheat with milk, raisins and brown sugar...the best! Oatmeal with butter and brown sugar is right up there too.

[Perilagu Khan]

Man, I eat oatmeal every morning M thru F in an attempt to boost the fiber in my diet and I must say, it's a slogg. This is one of my few health concessions.

[GraceW]

Try adding unsweetened cocoa powder with some sugar/sweetener AND/OR 1tbsp. nut butter.. tastes like REESE'S OATMEAL

[Perilagu Khan]

That might just make it bearable. :)

[GraceW]

If you just stick with the unsweetened cocoa powder (w/sweetener), then that actually has a tiny bit of fiber too :)
Also if you add a sprinkle of flax seeds on, then the crunch breaks up the texture of oatmeal.

[jmcarthur8]

Ok, now I definitely have to try that. I'm a Reeses Puffs gal.

[GraceW]

I have plain or that Reese's version everyday...
For weekends..
--Cinnabun--cinnamon, Torani's french-vanilla syrup, brown-sugar, raisins, and dallop of greek yogurt as "frosting"
-- Almond Joy--Almond butter, almond bits, & shredded coconut
--Apple pie--applesauce OR pie filling, cinnamon, Torani's french-vanilla syrup, and some uncooked oats on top

Hope that makes oatmeal less boring!

[browndogs2]

My parents didn't allow sugar cereals for breakfast, but my mom would let us get it on occasion as a dessert/non-breakfast treat. My favorites were Lucky Charms & Cocoa Puffs.

As for standard fare, we had Cream of Wheat, Wheatena, Cheerios, & Post Shredded Wheat in the house.

[Becca Porter]

I have never been a cereal eater. My mom always kept Crispex and Cheerios around. I liked the Crispex on occasion.

My husband's favorite was King Vitamin. Sadly it was discontinued or just unavailable here. However, oddly enough, Milk Bar's corn cookies (recipe) taste just like it. He loves them.

[mpjmph]

I haven't purchased King Vitamin in a few years, but it was definitely still available as of 2010 or so. I usually found it a lower-end grocery stores. It's still listed on the Quaker website, and is available for purchase online...

[CookieLee]

1950's and '60's:
At home-
Cheerios
Capn Crunch - when it first appeared, we loved it!
Alphabets - my little brother taught us a novel way to eat them. Hot buttered white toast, cut in
half. Sprinkle each half with Alphabets, fold toast over. We couldn't get enough of
this!
Ken-Mai Rice Bran - why did they stop making it?
Special K, just the plain one was available back then.
Life Cereal

At Camp-
Frosted Flakes
Frosted Flakes
Frosted Flakes
8 weeks of a sugar high!!

[HillJ]

Growing up our family was equally divided by hot & cold cereal lovers. The girls loved hot cereal the boys cold. Corn Pops, Fruit Loops and buckets of Frosted Flakes were consumed by my brothers and bowls of Maypo and Cream of Wheat by me and my sister.

Maypo remains my favorite bowl of hot cereal to this day.

[David11238]

Kix and Puffed Wheat.

[happybaker]

We were only allowed sugared cereal as a "treat" but of those - my fav was Sugar corn pops.

I loved cocoa pebbles, kix, honey comb, count chocula, even Quisp, but if I had to pick just one? Sugar Corn pops (now known as just "Corn Pops").

So here's a great story - in the early 90's I worked as a secretary in advertising, with a wonderful company based in Boston but I was at the LA branch. As a snack, I kept a box of the sugar corn pops in my upper filing cabinet. One of our visiting executives, who could buy and sell us all he had so much money but was still a very nice man, learned of my secret stash and when he was in town, would wander by and ask for a handful. He loved it. And it made me laugh - he could have the best food in town, there was plenty of food for him right there in the company - but he was still so happy to have just a tiny bit of sugar corn puffs.

Ah, the power of the cereal is strong : )

[annagranfors]

FORTY replies before the holy word "Quisp" was uttered??! And Mom was a half & half freak so I'd drench it in that! My poor pre-teen arteries...!

That said, I loved Post Fortified Oat Flakes, too. I liked the plain version, but am I confusing them with another Post cereal, or did they have versions with "freeze dried" blueberries or strawberries...?

[Tripeler]

When I was a kid, we mostly got corn flakes or puffed wheat. Nothing really special. But from time to time my mother would by Life cereal, which I really loved the nut-like oat taste of.

[Florida Hound]

It looks like Kelloggs "Corn Pops" continue on the market, without the dreaded word, "sugar." I don't know if there has been any actual change in their formula, but there seemed to be a trend to take out words like "sugar" or "fried," etc., from food titles in the 1980s, 1990s. My cultural memories hearken back to early 1960s, to a wonderful Sugar Pops character called "Sugar Pops Pete," a gun-slinging beaver kind of cartoon with a big cowboy hat. I am trying to remember if he shot sugar onto the sugar pops or something. They were one of my favorites. In the late 1950s, General Mills had "Jets" which were the single-most delicious cereal ever created, and lo these 50+ years later, I have no idea how they could discontinue something so tasty. I think in earlier 1950s packaging/ merchandizing, Jets started out as "Sugar Jets," too.

When Rice Chex, Wheat Chex, Corn Chex et al, were made by Ralston Purina, they had a mock newspaper on the back of the box called the Chex Press. And they created many many editions of this Press, so there was always something new to read- jokes, stories... I enjoyed "The Chex Press" as much as I enjoyed the cereals. I tried to contact the current makers of the Chex cereals (General Mills), and they had no idea about earlier packaging.

Re: The original Cheerios: in our hometown, we thought we knew a famous movies star, as a woman in town was the voice of "The Cheerios Kid." That made eating Cheerios a little more special.

[MacTAC]

Sugar Pops Pete and lots more...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv3l-P...

[Clams047]

Sugar Pops and Super Sugar Crisp - two more favorites.

Not sure if oatmeal is part of this discussion, but back in the 50's, we'd have oatmeal during the winter where we liked to add a small amount of Hersey's cocoa powder / mix. Then one day we were approached to be part of a test market for a "new" product - chocolate flavored oatmeal. Hmm - we had been enjoying that for years....

[Perilagu Khan]

I suspect you're right about the disappearance of the words "sugar" and "fried." This could account for the rebranding of Kentucky Fried Chicken as KFC. I imagine kids today don't know what that acronym stands for. And I'm certain they don't care. Mission accomplished.

[ola]

Most of the cereal producers removed the word" sugar" after the FCC hearings re: banning ads on children's television programming. I think it was in the early 80s. Suit was brought by a Boston group called Action for Children's Television and fought tooth and nail by all the cereal companies, sugar manufacturers.

[Florida Hound]

Yes, I vaguely remember the broo ha ha re: Action for Childrens Television. But you know, my perspective on how "impressionable" I may have been at 4 years old is a bit different through the lens of these years and years on the planet, and reinforced by so much of the commentary on this thread- 40 or 50 yrs later, several of the cereals of our youth can stand alone in our memories for their taste, but others are forever intertwined in memory with their advertising, and both the tastes (via some distortion of nostalgia) and the ads are as vivid as ever. Suger Pops= Sugar Pops Pete. Nabisco Rice Honeys= Buffalo Bee. Sugar Smacks= Smaxie the Seal, OKs= that big brawny guy in a kilt. Capt. Crunch cereal= Capt. Crunch, the character. Count Chocula (after my prime)....etc. etc. Maybe we were robbed by Action for Childrens Televsion or maybe they were on to something with the truism, 'grab those little kids at age 4, and they'll be eating out of your hand for the rest of their lives.' Many applications here beyond cereal, but its got me thinking. Not a bad thing.

Side note, I do remember the "Sugar Pops are tops" jingle, but I don't remember it with Andy Devine .

[laliz]

" In the late 1950s, General Mills had "Jets" which were the single-most delicious cereal ever created, and lo these 50+ years later, I have no idea how they could discontinue something so tasty. I think in earlier 1950s packaging/ merchandizing, Jets started out as "Sugar Jets," too. "

I agree 100%

[mucho gordo]

Do you remember "Sugar Pops are tops" sung by Andy Devine on the Wild Bill Hickok show back in the 50's?

[bagelman01]

Mucho....

Youtube is wonderful:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ5CPC...

[mucho gordo]

That's great, bm. Thanks. I didn't remember the actual commercial it shows; just the jingle.

[mpjmph]

We had a no marshmallows, no chocolate, no toys rule for cereal in my house in the mid 1980's. My favorites were Cap'n Crunch and Honey Nut Cheerios.

My grandmother always bought Frosted Flakes when I was visiting. My step-grandmother used to let each kid pick out their own box of cereal when we were visiting every summer. I always picked Cookie Crisp.

Now, I'm a sucker for Fruity Pebbles.

[sandylc]

I imposed a no colors, no marshmallows rule on my son in the 90s.

[Sra. Swanky]

My mom was the same way! It worked out -- I don't crave the stuff now! For me - mid 80s-early 90s was: Quaker O's, Honey Nut Cheerios, Kix and for a special treat (once every 4 months or so) -- Golden Grahams and my favorite - Cinnamon Toast Crunch! :o)

[gator28]

The 90s:

HBO with almonds
Rice Krispies
Cocoa Krispies
Frosted Flakes
Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Crispix
Apple Jacks

[Jeri L]

Apple Jacks and Honeycomb. Rarely got them at home but my Aunt and my Grandma always had sugar-bomb cereal. Grandpa was strictly a Wheaties man. At home it was usually Post Toasties. I liked the taste of Grape Nuts but it was too loud for me to eat in the morning--Grape Nuts Flakes are a wonderful innovation!

[Perilagu Khan]

Apple Jacks was the real deal.

[kubasd]

My all-time favorite cereal when I was a kid was Basic 4, but dang that stuff is expensive! So it was usually Honeynut Cheerios and Grape-nuts

ETA: late 80s, early 90s

[Philly Ray]

My favorite was Count Chocula.

[Perilagu Khan]

The Count was alright by me.

[ipsedixit]

All the cereals I ate as a kid I still eat today. Just in greater quantities.

[Veggo]

Then or now?

[ipsedixit]

Now.

[Veggo]

A prosecutor who is both healthy and honest is a refreshing combination...:)

[jbsiegel]

Golden Grahams
Honey Combs
Life
Sugar Pops (as opposed to the renamed Corn Pops - showing my age!)
Sugar Smacks (later renamed Honey Smacks)

[Perilagu Khan]

Honey Combs was a brawling, rugged and nasty cereal. After going 15 rounds with those massive, flinty-sharp cereal shards my mouth would be a bloody mess. But I'm a better man because of it.

[Veggo]

Thanks, pal. Now the Honeycomb jingle is again bouncing around in my head after all those years.

[jbsiegel]

Need to let them get nice and soggy in the milk first!

[Perilagu Khan]

There was a "no soggy" rule in my house. Hence, we never touched Frosted Flakes or the Pebbles, Fruity and Cocoa.

[jbsiegel]

Nothing better than soggy Frosted Flakes! Soggy Life is right up there too!!!

[Perilagu Khan]

I thought Soggy Life was the condition of living in Seattle. ;)

[jbsiegel]

And I forgot about another soggy favoite...soggy Frosted Mini Wheats.

[sandylc]

Grape Nuts, Shredded Wheat, and Alphabits. Oh, and Chex.

[bagelman01]

1955-1965
Sugar Crisps
Sugar Smacks
Frosted Flakes
Post Toasties
Chex

[Perilagu Khan]

Sugar Smacks--was that the cereal with Die 'Em the Frog going around giving everybody five? If so, that was a good cereal.

[bagelman01]

The frog came along after I was a grown up, but yes that was the cereal............

[jmcarthur8]

Life or Oat Flakes, or Shredded Wheat (the big ones). I don't know what colorful cereals they had back in the 60's, but they weren't at our house!
Now I get to eat all the sugary, fruit flavored, rainbow colored cereal I want. And I do.

[Veggo]

Post fortified oat flakes, no sugar, whole milk.

[Gio]

I've heard it said, "You are what you eat."... LOL

[Veggo]

You tease me because my 3 food groups are meat, garlic, and wine....but I still love you, G.

[Gio]

Haha... Good choices all around. Me too you Veg.

As for me, my favorite childhood cereal was cream of wheat w milk and sugar. However my mother, not wanting me to be a chubette, rationed it...

[Perilagu Khan]

Get outta here! ;)

[calliope_nh]

I wish they still made the Post Oat Flakes. I reall loved those. Cherios (there weren't different kinds) were my 2nd favorite. Had to have a spoonful of sugar on it. My mom ALS got Wheaties and Life which I didn't like as much. Thank goodness wexdidn't have to eat the GrapeNuts she liked for herself. Honey Combs were my favorite special occasion cereal. Both sets of grandparents would get the single serve sugar cereal variety packs when my brother and I visited. Awesome!

[davis_sq_pro]

Cap'n Crunch, Froot Loops, Frosted Flakes, Corn Pops... lots of sugary goodness in my household growing up. I did not, however, like any cereal with marshmallows (e.g. Lucky Charms).

Now I eat Kashi and similar organic/"healthier" brands. But I still love some Crunch or Frosted Flakes on the very rare occasions I have them. Froot Loops is pretty good too. The strange artificial fruit punch flavor and chewy texture are somehow endearing...

[Perilagu Khan]

Cap'n Crunch was like a god to me.

[Cheese Boy]

I used to work through Fruity Pebbles or Cocoa Pebbles just to get to the brown or pink milk at the bottom, but my absolute favorite would be Peanut Butter or regular CAPTAIN CRUNCH cereal.

[HeBrew]

Original Cheerios...the best!

[jpc8015]

Golden Grahams

[jbsiegel]

One summer, Golden Grahams was offering a t-shirt with a certain number of product codes. I hate to think how many boxes we ate! But...still love that cereal!

[Clams047]

In Jr / high school, I probably ate 2-3 bowls of Frosted Flakes most every morning.