breakfast cereal

Additional nutrition is provided to flaked breakfast cereal by serving it in milk, topping it with fresh fruit such as raspberries, and including beverages like tea and orange juice, as "part of a complete breakfast". Breakfast cereal is a category of food, including food products, made from processed cereal grains, that are eaten as part of breakfast or as a snack food, primarily in Western societies.

Although warm, cooked cereals like oat meal, maize grits, and wheat farina have the longest history as traditional breakfast foods, branded and ready-to-eat cold cereals (many produced via the process of extrusion) appeared around the late 19th century. These processed, precooked, packaged cereals are most often served in a quick and simple preparation with dairy products, traditionally cow's milk. These modern cereals can also be paired with yoghurt or plant-based milks, or eaten plain. Fruit or nuts are sometimes added, and may enhance the nutritional benefits.