Cereal Secrets

Types Of Cereal

As all cereal lovers know, per the Big Bowl Theory, the cerealverse was created when the primordial whole grains of nature collided with the evolution of mankind (and plain milk). However, those grains, those types of cereal, still exist today and continue to be the pillars of the cerealverse.

But, do you know the types of cereal upon which the cerealverse is created? After millennia, do they fit into our 21st-century diets and lifestyles? And which do you think is the most important one in this evolution and why?

Sections

Triticale

A hybrid of wheat and rye whose origin only dates back to 19th century Scotland and Germany. Recently, it has found new life as healthy food. The big deal? More protein than wheat flour, but less gluten.

Is triticale gluten-free?

No, not a gluten-free cereal.

Is triticale Keto?

No, not a Keto cereal; more than 72 grams per 100-gram serving.

Is Triticale vegan?

Yes, but that doesn’t mean all breakfast cereals made from it are.

Is triticale high in protein?

Yes, 12 grams per 100-gram serving.

Is triticale high in fiber?

Yes. One cup of this cereal equals 19 grams of fiber.

Cereals made of triticale?

  • Bob’s Red Mill Whole Grain 10 Grain Hot Cereal
  • Woodstock 5 Grain Cereal

Millet

Millet is among the oldest cereal grains. The plant looks more like a flower than grass and can be used as flour or in seed form (as a replacement for rice).

Is millet gluten-free?

Yes.

Is millet Keto?

No, not a Keto cereal; 22 grams per 100-gram serving.

Is millet vegan?

Yes.

Is millet high in protein?

Higher than many cereals; 6 grams per 100-grams.

Is millet high in fiber?

No.

Cereals made of millet?

  • Arrowhead Mills Puffed Millet Cereal (substitute for Rice Krispies)

Wheat

Wheat is the supreme grain of the cerealverse. Most of the cerealverse’s OGs (Original Giants) are wheat products. Did you know there are 7 varieties? Yep, Frosted Mini-Wheats is only one.

Is wheat gluten-free?

No.

Is wheat Keto?

No breakfast cereal with wheat is Keto.

Is wheat vegan?

Yes.

Is wheat high in protein?

Yes, 15 grams per 100-grams.

Is wheat high in fiber?

Yes, more than 10 grams per 100-grams.

Cereals made of wheat?

Buckwheat

Buckwheat is not one of the 7 varieties of wheat but its own plant. In fact, it’s not even a real cereal, but a pseudo-cereal and a member of the Rhubarb family.

Is buckwheat gluten-free?

Yes.

Is buckwheat Keto?

No, over 60 grams of carbs per 100-gram serving.

Is buckwheat vegan?

Yes.

Is buckwheat high in protein?

Not really. One cup has less than 6 grams.

Is buckwheat high in fiber?

Not really. One cup has less than 5 grams.

Cereals made of buckwheat?

Commonly used in hot cereals and even pancakes:

  • Organic Creamy Buckwheat Hot Cereal

Oats

Quaker Oats is an OG in the cerealverse. Oats are used in various forms, such as oat flour, oat bran, rolled oats, and milled oats. Most commonly, they take the form of oat flakes in cold breakfast cereal. Imagine breakfast cereals without Quaker Oats.

Are oats gluten-free?

Yes, oats in their purest state are naturally free of gluten.

Are oats Keto?

Oats are a grain, which makes them unfriendly to the Keto diet.

Are oats vegan?

However, oats are naturally vegan.

Are oats high in protein?

Yes, 17 grams per 100 grams.

Are oats high in fiber?

Yes, 11 grams per 100 grams.

Cereals made from oats?

Corn (Maize)

Staples of the American breakfast cereal scene are Frosted Flakes, Corn Pops and Corn Flakes. Could you imagine a cerealverse without kid’s cereal sweetened corn; Corn Pops, Corn Flakes, or Frosted Flakes? Factoid alert: corn is neither a grain, cereal, or vegetable but a fruit. Think about that next time you eat Fruity Pebbles or Fruit Loops.

Is corn gluten-free?

Yes.

Is corn Keto?

No.

Is corn vegan?

Yes.

Is corn high in protein?

No.

Is corn high in fiber?

No.

Cereals made of corn?

  • Frosted Flakes – Originally Sugar Frosted Flakes
  • Apple Jacks
  • Honey Nut Cheerios
  • Apple Cinnamon Cheerios
  • Corn Flakes
  • Honey Bunches of Oats
  • Cinnamon Bunches of Oats
  • Cocoa Puffs
  • Cap’n Crunch Berries
  • Cap’n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch
  • Corn Pops
  • Lucky Charms
  • Fruit Loops
  • General Mills Cookie Crisp

Barley

Along with wheat, rice, and corn, barley is the fourth most abundant grain on Earth. Commonly used in beer as barley malt, it is also a baking staple for bread and breakfast cereals, as well as in soups and stews.

Is barley gluten-free?

With upwards to 8% of its content as gluten, it is not gluten-free.

Is barley Keto?

This is another grain, so it’s high in net carbs, over 60 grams per 100 grams.

Is barley vegan?

Yes

Is barley high in protein?

Yes. Nearly 15 grams per 100 grams.

Is barley high in fiber?

Yes, very high. Nearly 18 grams per 100 grams.

Cereals made of barley?

Rye

Rye is inside the wheat family, but not a variety of wheat. Commonly, rye is used for fermentation and distillation, as in beers, whiskeys, and vodkas. It is also commonly found in bread and cereals.

Is rye gluten-free?

No, as a member of the wheat family, it has gluten.

Is rye Keto?

No, over 60 grams of carbs per 100-grams.

Is rye vegan?

Yes.

Is rye high in protein?

Yes, with over 10 grams per 100-grams.

Is rye high in fiber?

Yes, with nearly 10 grams per 100-grams.

Cereals made of rye?

  • Bob’s Red Mill Organic Cracked Rye
  • SHILOH FARMS Rye Flakes

Sorghum

When it comes to plant-based proteins, this is a powerhouse. Sometimes this is also called Great Millet or India Millet but originates in Africa. Speaking of the founding fathers, sorghum was introduced to the United States by Benjamin Franklin.

Is sorghum gluten-free?

Yes.

Is sorghum Keto?

No.

Is sorghum vegan?

Yes.

Is sorghum high in protein?

Yes, with 11 grams per 100-grams.

Is sorghum high in fiber?

Yes, with 7 grams per 100 grams.

Cereals made of sorghum?

Rice

One of the big 4 in the cerealverse. Along with corn, rice is the only cereal that is a full-fledged eat it as it is food among the primordial grains. There are dozens of varieties, but in cereal, it’s mostly plain and chocolate; think Rice Krispies and Cocoa Krispies

Is rice gluten-free?

All forms of rice are gluten-free.

Is rice Keto?

No, rice is one of the highest carb grains.

Is rice vegan?

Yes, a vegan staple.

Is rice high in protein?

No, less than 3 grams per 100-grams.

Is rice high in fiber?

No, virtually no fiber at all.

Cereals made of rice?

  • Raisin Bran
  • Rice Krispies
  • Cocoa Krispies
  • Cinnamon Toast Crunch
  • Original Cheerios
  • Honey Nut Cheerios
  • Cocoa Pebbles
  • Fruity Pebbles

Quinoa

Another pseudo-cereal, quinoa, is only recently making its presence known. Primarily due to the wave of diets that have overtaken the cerealverse.

Is quinoa gluten-free?

Yes.

Is quinoa Keto?

In moderation.

Is quinoa vegan?

Yes.

Is quinoa high in protein?

Yes, 8 grams per 100-grams.

Is quinoa high in fiber?

It’s OK, 5 grams per 100-grams.

Cereals made of quinoa?

  • Nature’s Path Heritage O’s

FAQs

Is cereal an American thing?

Breakfast cereal is as American as chocolate chip cookies and hot dogs. However, the road to today’s boxed delights was very winding. Originally invented as a digestive aid in 1863, it later (weirdly) took on religious overtones. Then it transitioned into a snack food before becoming a staple of the American breakfast.

What is the most popular cereal?

There have been numerous studies and in-depth research about this very question. There is no real consensus among all of the results, but the one cerealverse OG that hits the top stop the most is (drum roll) Cheerios. Cheerios consistently ranks as the world’s favorite cereal.

What’s the oldest cereal?

Breakfast cereal dates back to the late 19th century. We are talking Civil War-era guys. And the first breakfast cereal ever invented was granola (1863). However, some will argue that granola is not a legitimate breakfast cereal. So, the oldest breakfast cereal would then be Wheatena which was invented in 1879.

What country eats the most cereal?

Well, it’s not the United States, but we are in the top 5. With that said, there is a bit of bouncing back and forth from year to year among the top 5 countries. The latest ranking:

  1. United Kingdom
  2. Canada
  3. Australia
  4. United States
  5. Mexico

Final Thoughts

Well, there you are. The origin story of the cerealverse. The background of the Big Bowl Theory. So, what do you think? Which type of cereal has had the biggest contribution to the cerealverse, and which is responsible for your favorite cereals? Let us know.