That's The Way To Start The Day: Best Cereals of All-Time

I remember it like it was yesterday (it was): coming downstairs early in the morning to the kitchen with a smile. Happy that God (or "Father God" as he is known in Black churches) had given me another day, I celebrated by reaching in the cabinet and grabbing a box of cereal, man's most unique creation. I'm clearly being facetious, but cereal is absurdly tasty. Cereal is one of the first dishes to combine the sweet taste of dessert with the nutrition needed to kick your day in gear. In addition, cereal is quick paced, so you can eat and roll.

Any time that box is next to the bowl, fun and goodness will occur.

Though cereal is enjoyed by adults, the food is more commonly associated with the good-hearted nature of children. It is synonymous with Saturday mornings, cartoons, and pajamas. Every person has grown attached to a few particular boxes of breaded goodness, and I am no different. Today, we highlight the greatest cereals of all-time.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch

The power was in the product; CTC didn't have a mascot, didn't NEED a mascot. With its unique design of whole wheat and rice squares embroidered with cinnamon swirls, the cereal offers great taste both crunchy and soggy. CTC is also special because it was also developmental in the drinks we prefer today. 

All those special coffees from Starbucks you drink? That's nothing but Cinnamon Toast Crunch milk after you ate all the cereal. Now thinking of it, Cinnamon Toast Crunch does have a weird old white guy on the front of it. I never understood his objectives; let me find out that after all this time, Mitt Romney was on one of my favorite cereals.

Apple Jacks

No cereal was more mystifying and intriguing than Apple Jacks (Side note: Old people never put the "s" on Apple Jacks. It's a person to them; Apple Jack.) The claim to fame for this wildly popular cereal was that the taste deviated from the name. I've been eating Apple Jacks for years; they removed the "jacks" before my era (The green "O" was originally an "X", to simulate the game Jacks) and speaking in poor English, "wasn't nothing 'apple' about it". The cereal does not taste like apples at all, but it tastes good. As their slogan from my generation put it, "We Eat What We Like". Yup!

Honey Nut Cheerios

Because of the multitude of flavors Cheerios has released over the years, the cereal sometimes loses credibility as a unique breakfast choice. Honey Nut Cheerios, however, is a flavor whose star power you cannot deny. Consider the benefits: Honey, which Mariah Carey put me on to; that little bee has charisma; and it's naturally flavored (whatever that means.) More importantly, as an adult, who can hate on a cereal that lowers cholesterol? My doctor just told me to watch what I eat.

Froot (Fruit) Loops

Color Combinations...and tasty goodness.

Froot Loops is a class above the other "fruity" cereals. Fruity Pebbles is cool, Trix and its stalker rabbit present a decent option, but Toucan Sam "and dem" stand head above shoulders over the others. Mirroring the ring shape of the previously mentioned Apple Jacks, Froot Loops provides an array of colors which is many kids' first opportunity to put assortments together. I loved to my red Froot Loops with the yellow ones. Froot Loops helped me to be the sharp dresser I am today!

Rice Krispies

The most multi-faceted cereal of the bunch, Rice Krispies was a food and a friend. It possessed style and substance, a balance which all of us can use in our lives. For young children like myself, the cereal was the first date we ever had, and a good one at that. Think about it: how many dates have you went on where you couldn't even get good conversation? Rice Krispies not only provided a source of starch, but it spoke to you! My aunts and grandmother would reminisce how they would pour the milk in my "Krisps" and I'd lean my ear in to hear that Snap, that Crackle, and that (dirty!) Pop. Now for any fan of Chris Tucker and the cult classic Money Talks, you already know about Snap and Pop, but don't sleep on the crackle. Furthermore, the transition from Rice Krispies to Rice Krispies Treats rivals Michael Jackson's evolution from child star to pop legend (again, being facetious, but that marshmallow is a "Thriller".)

Frosted Flakes took you straight
to the top.

Frosted Flakes

Their tagline says it all: "They're Grrr-eat!" Frosted Flakes takes the bland but respectable Corn Flakes and remixes them R.Kelly style by adding a "frosting" coat of sugar. Whoo! That's what I'm talking about, bay-bee! Along with tasting great, mascot Tony the Tiger was the ultimate motivator, a Phil Jackson of the cereal game. When watching the commercials and subsequently eating Frosted Flakes you realized that not only was the cereal great, but so were you. Isn't that what the kids need to know these days? With the exception of Wheaties and their campaign with sports athletes (including Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Olympic greats), Frosted Flakes is unrivaled in their connection with physical and athletic competition. Finally, before Roland Martin, before Andre 3000, even before Garvin...Tony the Tiger rocked the ascot. Get it right.

Honorable Mention:

Corn Pops (A Specialty Cereal; not everyday)

Smacks (Dig 'Em + Cool Name= Great Product)

Cap'n Crunch Crunch Berries (Original or All Berries version? You Decide.)

Lucky Charms (Not my personal favorite, but at the request of fans)

Think I omitted a top flight cereal? Comment below with your favorite all-time cereals or tweet us @cedsconfessions with the hashtag #greatestcereals!

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For more on writer Cedric Perry and "Confessions of a Big Dreamer", like the page at www.facebook.com/cedsconfessions. Also, follow us on twitter @cedsconfessions.