If you have ever watched an American movie, a TV commercial, or browsed through vlogs about life in America, you have definitely seen this scene. A child sitting at the dining table, pouring a heap of cereal from the box into a bowl, adding a little cold milk, and starting to chew crunchily. Or it could be a busy mother, a single guy, or even a family gathered around colorful cereal boxes.

But have you ever wondered why Americans are so obsessed with cereal? Why has such a seemingly simple dish, just a few crunchy pieces of cereal with milk, become an indispensable part of American culinary culture?

It all has its reasons in the 19th century, a time when American breakfasts were completely different from now. Back then, breakfast often consisted of heavy dishes, such as salted pork, fried potatoes, eggs, or a bowl of thick porridge made from wheat or corn. These dishes were tasty but took a lot of time to prepare. You had to get up early, light the stove, cook the porridge, fry the meat, and clean up. For busy workers or rural families, preparing a full breakfast every day was a huge challenge.

Everything began to change in 1894 in a small town called Battle Creek. This place is in Michigan and is dubbed the cereal capital of the world. Here, there were two Kellogg brothers, John Kellogg, a doctor and health reformer who was the director of a famous sanatorium, and W.K. Kellogg, the younger brother with a keen business mind. The older brother was a zealous vegetarian and believed that a healthy diet was the key to living longer. He wanted to create a breakfast that was light, easy to digest, and suitable for a vegetarian lifestyle he pursued. One day, the two brothers accidentally left a batch of cooked dough in the kitchen. Instead of throwing it away, they decided to roll it out and bake it.

And thus, the first crunchy cereal pieces in the world were born. Patients loved it because it was filling, easy to eat, required no cooking, and the crunchiness when chewing provided a very pleasant experience. Initially, it was not designed to taste good. John Kellogg wanted to keep the product pure, without adding sugar or any flavoring because he believed that sweet foods would stimulate unhealthy cravings. However, the younger brother had a different vision. He realized that adding a little sugar would make it much more appealing to the public. The debate over whether to add sugar or not led to a significant rift between the two brothers.

Eventually, they separated, and the result was that the younger brother's company, which added sugar to the cereal, saw explosive sales, and cereal officially entered the lives of Americans. At this point, the breakfast cereal market in the U.S. was valued at about $20.6 billion. Americans consume about 2.7 billion boxes of cereal each year. This means that on average, each American eats about 8 to 10 kg of cereal each year. This figure shows that cereal is not just a food but also an indispensable part of the daily lives of Americans.

So we know how cereal was born, but why has it become an essential part of American breakfasts? There are many reasons, from convenience, taste, to marketing strategies and cultural factors as well. Let's talk about the living culture of Americans.

Americans, especially from the 20th century onwards, live in an increasingly fast-paced society with the development of industry, urbanization, and a 24/7 work culture. Time is a very precious commodity. In the 1920s, when factories and offices began to spring up like mushrooms, workers had to get up early to arrive at work on time. By the 1950s and 1960s, as more women entered the workforce, families no longer had time to prepare elaborate breakfasts as before. Thus, cereal emerged as a savior. Just three simple steps: open the box, pour the cereal into a bowl, add milk.

And there you have a full energy breakfast in less than 5 minutes. Even children aged 5 to 6 can prepare their own breakfast with cereal without needing help from their parents. This is especially important in the context of modern American families, where both parents work and children have to take care of their breakfast before going to school. And to be honest, it’s not just convenient but also delicious. The sensation of chewing crunchy cereal combined with milk creates an experience that is both refreshing and satisfying. Cereal companies have invested millions of dollars in flavor research, ensuring that every piece of cereal is a burst of taste.

One of the biggest reasons cereal has become an icon in America is the excellent marketing strategies of the manufacturers.

Since the 1920s, cereal companies have heavily invested in advertising, making cereal an indispensable part of life. They not only advertised that cereal was convenient but also associated it with images of health, energy, and success. TV commercials often looked like this: an Olympic athlete eating cereal before winning a gold medal. A top student smiling brightly with a bowl of cereal or a happy family gathered around the dining table. Of course, there is cereal. What is their message? Eat cereal, and you will become the best version of yourself.

Moreover, cereal companies were even smarter by sponsoring children's television programs in the 1950s and 1980s. Every Saturday morning, when children sat in front of the TV, cereal commercials continuously appeared, making them unable to resist begging their parents to buy them cereal. Some companies even included toys, stickers, or games inside the cereal boxes to attract children. It is estimated that in the 1980s, 70% of cereal purchase decisions in supermarkets were made by children, thanks to the power of cartoon characters and advertising campaigns targeting this demographic.

Another important reason is the price.

Compared to buying ingredients to cook a full breakfast including eggs, bacon, bread, and fruit, a box of cereal is much cheaper. A large box of cereal can last a week, or even a month if not eaten every day. Additionally, milk is also an easily found and inexpensive ingredient in America, especially as dairy farms have developed significantly since the early 20th century. The average price of a box of cereal is about $4 to $6. In contrast, the cost of preparing a full breakfast with eggs, meat, and bread can reach $10 to $15 per week for one person.

For middle-class families or those on a limited budget, cereal is a delicious and economical choice. It is not just a breakfast food but also a part of American culture. It appears in movies, TV shows, newspapers, and everyday stories. American children have a special connection with cereal. For many children, this is the first food they prepare themselves. Open the cupboard, take out the cereal box, pour it into a bowl, add milk. And it’s done.

That sense of independence is very important for children, and it also helps parents save time in the morning. Moreover, cereal also fosters creativity in children. What child hasn’t tried mixing different cereals, adding fruit, or even pouring milk first before adding cereal? This even becomes a controversial topic in the cereal-loving community. Some children even prefer to eat dry cereal like a snack, munching on it throughout the day.

Perhaps many people will wonder if cereal is convenient and delicious, but is it really healthy?

The answer is it depends. When cereal first came out, it was marketed as a healthy food, low in fat, and high in fiber. Companies often emphasized that their products were fortified with vitamins and minerals such as vitamin D, iron, and calcium. However, since the 1960s, when sweet cereals became popular, many began to question their true nutritional value. Nevertheless, cereal brands quickly adapted to the wave of health consciousness. Since the 2000s, they have started launching low-sugar, high-protein, fiber-fortified, and whole grain cereals.

If you choose the right type of cereal and combine it with low-fat milk, fresh fruit, or nuts, it can still be a fairly balanced breakfast. Nowadays, even with many other breakfast options like smoothies, avocado toast, overnight oats, or international breakfast dishes, cereal still maintains a very solid position. Over 40% of Americans eat cereal at least once a week, and this industry is still worth billions of dollars each year. During the Covid-19 pandemic, cereal sales in the U.S. surged by 12% as many people working from home sought convenient quick meals. Cereal once again proved that it is always a companion in difficult times.