The Jambar
Whether it’s pancakes, waffles or bacon and eggs, breakfast is the best way to fuel yourself for the day. In a pinch, only one item comes to mind for a quick and easy breakfast: cereal. Here at The Jambar, we believe everyone should start their day with a balanced breakfast, and there’s no better way than starting it off with a bowl of cereal.
While instant oats, bagels, breakfast bars and yogurt may be ideal for a quick on-the-go snack, nothing beats sitting down in the morning for a nice bowl of cereal.
Cereal is among the most popular breakfast items. According to a 2023 report by Civic Science, around 70% of Americans enjoy cereal for breakfast. This comes out to around 234 million Americans who eat a box of their favorite cereal.
Cereal itself, despite being one of the most popular breakfast meals, is one of history’s more recent inventions. The first breakfast cereal was marketed by James Caleb Jackson and was known as “granula,” which was graham flour molded into shapes served in milk. This first appeared on shelves in 1863. Since then, over 70 cereal brands have appeared in the United States alone.
Opinions on the best cereal are subjective—some may say Rice Krispies, and others may say Captain Crunch. While some may disagree on their favorite cereals, all parties can come together in the fact that they both enjoy cereal.
The editorial staff at The Jambar was able to democratically vote for our favorite cereals. Based on the popular vote, we have been able to compile our top five favorite cereals.
Starting off the list at No. 5 is Frosted Flakes. A 2023 report from Zippia shows that Frosted Flakes sold 132 million boxes per year. With a simple recipe of corn, sugar, malt flavoring and salt, Frosted Flakes are a wonderfully sweet start to your morning.
The No. 4 pick is a childhood classic, Cheerios. The same Zippia report shows that Cheerios is the leading cereal brand in the United States, selling nearly 139 million boxes in 2023. Loaded with vitamins and over 20 grams of carbohydrates, Cheerios are perhaps one of the world’s most iconic and favorite cereals.
On the subject of simple but delicious cereals, Rice Krispies ranks at No. 3. The puffed rice cereal—which is the oldest cereal on the list—has been waking up the world since 1928. Rice Krispies’s iconic mascot trio Snap, Crackle and Pop were introduced in 1932, taking the radio waves by storm. With the addition of fresh fruit or cinnamon, no one can go wrong with Rice Krispies.
A slightly sweeter variation of Rice Krispies appears at No. 2. Fruity Pebbles were invented in 1971 as a way to capitalize on the wildly successful 1960s cartoon The Flintstones. Named after Fred and Wilma Flintstone’s daughter, Fruity Pebbles has been a staple of most childhood pantries for over 50 years.
Last, but certainly not least, ranking in at the No. 1 spot is Captain Crunch. Despite several other popular contenders, including Raisin Bran, Krave and Booberry, Captain Crunch was the only cereal to receive two votes as the best. With or without berries, this sweet, crunchy cereal sits proudly at number one on The Jambar’s ranking of the best breakfast cereals.