Detail you may never have noticed about your favourite breakfast cereal (2024)
You probably enjoyed it as a child (or adult) and have seen it on supermarket shelves hundreds of times, but did you actually know the name of this popular breakfast cereal?
If you just silently exclaimed, "yes it's Fruit Loops!" then we're sorry to be the bearer of potentially embarrassing news, but you're wrong.
When it comes to the name, many people don't give it a second thought, but as the cereal box featuring the iconic colourful Tucan reveals, it's actually spelled 'Froot Loops'.
And if you're now thinking 'but I swear it used to be called Fruit Loops', you're also not alone.
Enter: The Mandela Effect.
The Mandela Effect is a phenomenon in which a large group of people share a false memory, usually a detail of a largely agreed-upon event – named after how many people shared a memory of Nelson Mandela dying in prison decades before his actual death.
In this case, some people say the cereal was originally 'Fruit Loops' and then changed to 'Froot Loops,' while others believe it was the other way around. Plenty claim this change happened during their childhood, while others say they just noticed it in recent months.
It was claimed the word "fruit" in the cereal name implied it was a fruit-based snack, and that it was misleading. In the end, a settlement out of court was supposedly arranged and the cereal name was changed and re-released as Froot Loops.
But this lawsuit never actually happened, though there are still plenty of references to 'Fruit Loops' all over the web, likely contributing to the ongoing confusion.
And judging by the comments on a blog post about the name, the discussion continues.
"OMG... I was 9 in 2009 when I noticed this. Would go to school every morning to get breakfast. There were Fruit Loops. I used to draw the box. Every day. Until one day - I saw that it had changed to Froot Loops, and asked the staff why we were getting the off-brand suddenly and if it was different. They told me that it had always been Froot Loops," one person shared.
"I only remember Froot Loops. I have been eating them for almost 40 years," another wrote.
"This is backwards. It was Froot, changed to Fruit and in 2019 went back to Froot," another person 'remembers', while a fourth said: "I'm pretty sure they've changed it back and forth."
However, breakfast tended to be a heavy affair and the first cold cereals were created as healthier alternatives. These early cereals were made from wheat and were tough and not that great. Eventually, cereal recipes got better and they have evolved into what we see all across grocery shelves today.
Breakfast cereals made with refined grains and sugars have a high glycemic index, which means it can cause a sharp spike in your post-meal blood sugar levels. On the other hand, choosing a high-fiber breakfast cereal made with whole grains and has little to no added sugars can help promote better blood sugar control.
As with many notable inventions, Kellogg's Corn Flakes were created partially by accident. Though the product may not be what the Kellogg brothers were intending to make at the time, their stroke of culinary luck led to the advent of The Kellogg Company and America's best-selling breakfast cereal.
People eat fewer bowls of cereal now. In the last 28 years, the average American ate 14 fewer bowls per year. This is because of different things like lifestyle changes, new eating habits, and wanting gluten-free or store brands. Breakfast is different now.
"Eating cereal containing high amounts of added sugar right before bed can cause a spike in your blood sugar and increase insulin levels, causing you to wake up feeling hungry," explains Smith. "Cereal can be a suitable snack prior to bedtime, but choose high-fiber, lower-sugar options."
The healthiest breakfast foods include a protein, healthy fat and source of carbohydrates, according to Smolen. For a healthy breakfast, consider eating foods like oatmeal with nut butter, avocado toast with an egg, chia seed pudding or a greek yogurt parfait with nuts and berries.
They're not only low in fat and calories but also affordable and packed with essential vitamins and minerals. Yet, Cheerios are a processed food, and some flavors are loaded with sugar. As such, you should minimize your intake or choose low sugar varieties like plain or multigrain.
Eating excessive amounts of refined cereals may cause sharp rises in blood sugar levels and strong responses from the pancreas, which, over time, coupled with other unhealthy dietary behaviours, may lead to the development of diabetes.
Cereal provides complex carbohydrates including dietary fibre and proteins. They are typically low in fat, nutrient dense and in most cases fortified with many essential vitamins and minerals. They are not only convenient but also provide the much needed nourishment.
Look for at least 3 grams of fiber per serving – that's about 12 percent of the daily recommendation. Be on the lookout for added “faux” fibers too. A little sweetness will keep your cereal from tasting like cardboard but many cereals will rival a dessert in the sugar department.
Milk-first people think that pouring the milk over the cereal leads to immediate sogginess, but with pouring the cereal over the milk, the cereal can float on the milk rather than being submerged in it. Although this method might slightly delay the process of the cereal getting soggy, it has its downsides.
From the earliest days of the republic, Americans broke their fast in the morning by eating whatever was most easily available, which often included bread, eggs or leftovers.
The first cold breakfast cereal, Granula (not the same as granola), was invented in the United States in 1863 by James Caleb Jackson, operator of Our Home on the Hillside which was later replaced by the Jackson Sanatorium in Dansville, New York.
Kellogg's boycott explained: Why are people refusing to buy from the cereal brand? Cereal and snack fanatics began a movement to boycott Kellogg's brand after their CEO spoke out about them lowering prices.
Introduction: My name is Patricia Veum II, I am a vast, combative, smiling, famous, inexpensive, zealous, sparkling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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