Milk: Total Amateur Move

It’s probably the first thing you reach for after you pour yourself some cheerios but I have one word for you, boringggg!  You have to think outside of the bowl here.  By sticking to the old milk standby you are missing out on the true potential of your cereal to be not just a one-dimensional breakfast food, but a gourmet meal. 

Now the concept of cereal without milk may be shocking to some of you, so we’ll take this slow.  Choosing the perfect cereal condiment should be like selecting a fine wine. One must take into consideration flavor (a very sweet cereal is balanced with the addition of something salty or savory), texture (crunchiness pairs nicely with smooth textures such as yogurt, ice cream, or peanut butter), and size and shape of the cereal grain, cluster, or puff (cereals comprised of very small pieces are best mixed with a base and eaten with a spoon while cereals comprised of larger pieces can be easily dipped or snacked on with other dry components).  Below is a list of our favorite additions to your bowl that will cereaously take your cereal eating experience to the next level.

Soy or flavored milks: The next step up from plain old dairy milk. Subtle flavor variations can bring out the taste and complexity of even the most basic of cereals.
Suggestion: original Special K and chocolate or vanilla soy milk

Yogurt: A great milk alternative. Yogurt will satisfy those who enjoy the classic combination of cereal and dairy while at the same time providing an interesting texture and more substantive meal for the very hungry cereal eater. The addition of fruit to your yogurt and cereal not only ramps up the flavor but also the nutrition.
Suggestion: Vanilla or strawberry Greek yogurt, granola clusters, sliced bananas.

Peanut Butter, cream cheese, cool whip (the “dips”): Perfect for the snack or dessert cereal and those cereals with pieces large enough to eat without a spoon. Dips are best consumed in moderation, but let’s be honest, it’s cereal we’re talking about here, who eats it in moderation?
Suggestion: Frosted Mini Wheats and honey walnut cream cheese

Pretzels, nuts, dried fruit, chocolate chips (the “trail mix”): Although cereal easily stands on it’s own as the perfect handful of snacking heaven, with the addition of other dry elements you can take an awesome snack to a cereaously amazing one.  Think customized trail mix here.  If you love the combination of sweet and salty consider eating your favorite sweet cereal with pretzels or nuts or, for those with a cereaous sweet tooth, chocolate chips or candy along with a crunchy cereal instantly makes for a decadent treat.
Suggestion: pretzels, craisins, and Cracklin’ Oat Bran