For years, cereal has been the breakfast staple in America, adorning shelves with its colorful packaging and satisfying mornings with milk and berries.
Unfortunately for the cereal industry, sales have dropped by 6 percent over the last two years, according to an analysis that studied cereal consumption in America.
This is not unexpected; in fact, consumption of cold cereal has been experiencing a decline for the past two decades.
This drop in cereal consumption, whether it be Fruit Loops or raisin bran, may be attributed to a number of things, according to researchers. One main reason is that more and more consumers are becoming conscious of their health and weight, seeking breakfast foods that are high in protein content, as protein-rich meals have better staying power than carbohydrates. Cereals are heavy on carbs, with its refined flours and sugars.
After decades of eating cereals for breakfast, people have found that having a bowl of it every morning fails to satisfy; hunger strokes after an hour later.
Lifestyle wise, a number of people with packed schedules need quick and on-the-go food options, having no luxury in the morning to sit down for a bowl of cereal. Instead, their schedule only allows them to grab something that's easy to eat in the car or at work.
Still, there is no denying that there are cereal options that are high in fiber and are minimally processed. Adding ingredients like fresh fruit and nuts makes a bowl of cereal a healthy option itself.
To make a bowl of cereal an equally healthy option, U.S. nutritionists recommend trying a parfait, which involves layering a high-fiber, low-sugar cereal with plain Greek yogurt, fruit, and nuts.
It is also advisable to switch to hot cereal, such as steel cut oats or whole-grain hot cereal blend, mixing it with seeds, fruit, and nuts.
