Travis loves cereal. Especially the really sugary stuff. To this day he still talks about how he’d come home from school, pour a mixing bowl of fruity pebbles and milk, and enjoy it in teenage bliss. The kids all look at each other in wonder. Grandma let dad eat mixing bowls of sugary cereal!!!
Then they look at me.
I grew up on cereal too. The ONLY time I didn’t eat cereal was when indulging in those little packages of flavored oatmeal. But yeah, every morning started with something out of a box. It’s just what you had for breakfast in the 80’s.
Then came love, marriage, babies. . . and health problems. That, and learning what so many people didn’t know back then: cereal is a highly processed food that really offers no nutritional benefit – despite what they claim on the side of the box.
Have you read about ‘the rat story‘ – the one where rats actually thrived better eating the cardboard box the cereal came in than the cereal itself? After reading that – and the combined need to stay away from sugar and processed foods, we’ve come to love eggs, porridge, sourdough pancakes, muffins, and other options for breakfast.
I won’t lie though. Travis and I came to a compromise – and he and the kids eat boxed cereal once a week on Sunday mornings. Not me though – morning sickness from multiple pregnancies and cereal did NOT go well. I’m scarred for life. 😉
One of our favorite breakfast alternatives is granola. Here’s a list of 16 recipes that you’re sure to love:
Granola in the making
Chocolate Toffee Gluten-Free Granola @ Healthy Jasmine
Peanut Butter Granola @ Hillbilly Housewife
Cranberry Coconut Granola @ Raising the Barrs
Soaked Granola Cereal @ Whole Intentions
Homemade Blueberry Pie Granola @ Healthy Jasmine
Pumpkin Spice Granola @ The Humbled Homemaker
Freezer Granola @ The Chaos and the Clutter
Banana Nut Paleo Granola @ Healthy Jasmine
Make Your Own Granola @ Accidentally Green
Easy Homemade Granola @ Imperfect Housewife
Paleo Cinnamon Raisin Granola @ Natural Momma in Progress
Simple Granola @ Never Lacking Zeal
Crockpot Granola @ The Ezer Wife
(source)
Granola Bars & Cookies
Homemade Chocolate Raisin Oatmeal Bars @ Savor the Days
Chocolate Raspberry Granola Cookies @ Common Sense Homesteading
Granola Breakfast Cookies @ Common Sense Homesteading
What’s your favorite alternative to boxed breakfast cereal?
Paula Miller, CHS, Metabolic Nutrition Consultant
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Thanks for the link, Paula!
Thanks so much for a great post and sharing my peanut butter granola recipe. I can’t wait to try some of the other recipes you shared.
We grew up on the same cold cereal and it’s still comfort food for my husband as well. Doing my best to keep those boxes out of the house.
In my single days, after college, I loved to eat Fruity Pebbles Most of my dinners were Fruity Pebbles or Spaghetti O’s. I started to read labels and make healthier choices when my children were little. They sometimes have conversations about the ‘things that Mom used to let us eat.’ It makes me smile. I will be trying some of these granola recipes. Thanks.