Breakfast Ideas # What Are Cereals? A Journey from Ancient Grains to Modern Breakfast Bowls Published: 10/07/2026 AuthorNestlé Cereals Reading time: 5 min. Share it with your friends ![Wheat with Hand](/uk/sites/g/files/qirczx836/files/styles/1_1_768px_width/public/2026-07/64c304ee-e55e-4e65-85cb-7c81ce4a12ee_0.jpg.webp?itok=zVSkntFy) Breakfast cereal isn’t just part of a quick meal; it’s part of a fascinating story stretching back thousands of years. From ancient grains nourishing early societies to the crunchy, tasty bowls we enjoy today, cereal has evolved alongside us. Let’s explore how this staple food developed, who first made it ‘ready to eat’, and how modern breakfasts around the world have been shaped today. ## From Ancient Grains to Breakfast Bowls: The Early History of Cereal Did you know people have been enjoying grains for around 75,000 years? It all began in Western Asia, where early communities first started gathering and using grains as a vital food source. Since then, these humble crops have stood the test of time, being cultivated, cooked, and cherished in countless ways. Today, cereal grains remain one of the world’s most important and loved staple foods, providing nourishment across cultures and generations, and continuing to play a central role in daily diets around the globe.[1 ](https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/grain/) ## Who Invented Cereal? It all began in 1863 with Dr James Caleb Jackson, a health-conscious vegetarian who baked graham flour dough into hard, crunchy shapes. They were so firm they needed an overnight soak in milk. This was the first step towards the delicious breakfast cereals we know and love today![2 ](https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Harvey-Kellogg) ## Social and Cultural Influences on Early Breakfast Trends The development of breakfast cereal wasn’t just about convenience. It reflected changing ideas of health and society. In 1863, health reformer Dr. James Caleb Jackson introduced Granula, a simple grain-based food he believed would ease digestion. At the time, heavy, greasy breakfasts were the norm. Jackson’s invention, which needed soaking to be edible, offered a ready-to-eat alternative that suited the pace of busier modern lives.[ 3 ](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/first-breakfast-cereal-granula-had-be-soaked-being-eaten-180962340/) ![CPW](/uk/sites/g/files/qirczx836/files/styles/1_1_768px_width/public/2026-07/CPW_logo_transparent_2.png.webp?itok=GzeZr83o) ## Nestlé's Role in Shaping the Modern Cereal Landscape At Nestlé, we believe every day deserves a better start, and our cereal story reflects that. Shredded Wheat has been on breakfast tables since 1893, making it one of the oldest and most recognisable cereals still enjoyed today. Made from just one natural ingredient, 100% [whole grain](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/uk/nutrition/whole-grain-cereal) wheat - it was among the first ready-to-eat cereals of its kind. Its signature woven biscuits offered something new: a simple, no-added-sugar option that brought delicious grains to the breakfast table in a convenient ready-to-serve format that made enjoying whole grain wheat at breakfast both simple and enjoyable for families. Decades later, Shreddies joined the lineup in 1953, with their distinctive malty flavour and satisfyingly crunchy squares. They quickly became a family favourite, known for their long-lasting crunch and iconic lattice shape. In 1990, Nestlé teamed up with General Mills to create Cereal Partners Worldwide (CPW), combining Nestlé's expertise with General Mills’ cereal know-how. Together, we’ve brought favourites like [Multigrain Cheerios® Cereal](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/uk/brands/cheerios/multigrain), [Shredded Wheat® Original](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/uk/brands/shredded-wheat/original), and [Original Shreddies®](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/uk/brands/shreddies/original) to millions of breakfast bowls around the world—all with one mission: [Make Breakfast Better.](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/global/our-promises/better-food) ## From Simple Starts to Modern Bowls Breakfast cereal has come a long way and so has the way we think about what goes into every bowl. What began as a simple, grain-based meal has grown through decades of innovation, adapting to changing tastes, lifestyles, and nutritional awareness. This evolution isn’t only about new ingredients, it reflects how breakfast has become part of daily family life. From recipes with more whole grain and fibre, reducing sugar and salt, to a wider choice of flavours and formats, cereals have continued to evolve to meet what people want at the breakfast table. For some, it’s a quick and easy start before the school run or workday; for others, it’s a shared moment of connection around the table. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Which country first popularised breakfast cereal? The United States popularised breakfast cereal in the late 19th century, turning simple grains into a convenient everyday meal.[4 ]() ### Who invented the first ready-to-eat breakfast cereal? Dr. James Caleb Jackson in 1863 created “Granula,” a baked graham flour cereal that needed soaking in milk.[5](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/first-breakfast-cereal-granula-had-be-soaked-being-eaten-180962340/) ## Other articles to explore [![Cheerios apple sauce muffins](/uk/sites/g/files/qirczx836/files/styles/1_1_450px_width/public/2026-06/CHEERIOS_Applesauce%20muffins_0.jpg.webp?itok=GHhe7wW2)](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/savoury-breakfast-ideas) Reading time: 5 min. Breakfast Ideas ## [Discovering Savoury Breakfasts with Your Favourite Cereals](/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/savoury-breakfast-ideas) [View more](/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/savoury-breakfast-ideas "View more - Discovering Savoury Breakfasts with Your Favourite Cereals") [![Friends enjoying a relaxing Sunday morning with coffee](/uk/sites/g/files/qirczx836/files/styles/1_1_450px_width/public/2026-05/Sunday%20breakfast_0.jpg.webp?itok=vDkrn966)](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/sunday-breakfast-ideas) Breakfast Ideas ## [Savour the Weekend: Delicious Sunday Breakfast Ideas](/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/sunday-breakfast-ideas) [View more](/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/sunday-breakfast-ideas "View more - Savour the Weekend: Delicious Sunday Breakfast Ideas") [![Friends enjoying brunch](/uk/sites/g/files/qirczx836/files/styles/1_1_450px_width/public/2026-05/Brunch%20friends_0.jpg.webp?itok=dqcXLI8a)](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/brunch-ideas) Breakfast Ideas ## [How to Throw a Breakfast Buffet or Brunch Party](/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/brunch-ideas) [View more](/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/brunch-ideas "View more - How to Throw a Breakfast Buffet or Brunch Party") [![Smoothies and berries](/uk/sites/g/files/qirczx836/files/styles/1_1_450px_width/public/2026-03/Smoothies.jpg.webp?itok=Wj1c6QbB)](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/breakfast-drinks-ideas) Reading time: 5 min. Breakfast Ideas ## [Good Mornings in a Glass: Cereal-Inspired Breakfast Drinks & Smoothies](/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/breakfast-drinks-ideas) [View more](/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/breakfast-drinks-ideas "View more - Good Mornings in a Glass: Cereal-Inspired Breakfast Drinks & Smoothies") [![Woman baking in kitchen](/uk/sites/g/files/qirczx836/files/styles/1_1_450px_width/public/2026-03/Baking%20hero_0.jpg.webp?itok=6G_rGCyT)](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/baking-for-a-bake-sale) Reading time: 5 min. Breakfast Ideas ## [Bake Sale: Cake Ideas and Other Baked Goods using Cereals](/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/baking-for-a-bake-sale) [View more](/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/baking-for-a-bake-sale "View more - Bake Sale: Cake Ideas and Other Baked Goods using Cereals") [![Easter breakfast table with yellow tulips and decorative eggs](/uk/sites/g/files/qirczx836/files/styles/1_1_450px_width/public/2026-03/Easter%20breakfast%20table_2.jpg.webp?itok=beaTA-Nz)](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/breakfast-ideas-for-easter) Reading time: 5 min. Breakfast Ideas ## [Easter Morning Breakfast Ideas ](/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/breakfast-ideas-for-easter) [View more](/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/breakfast-ideas-for-easter "View more - Easter Morning Breakfast Ideas ") [![NESTLE Shredded Wheat packshot](/uk/sites/g/files/qirczx836/files/styles/1_1_450px_width/public/2026-01/NESTLE_ShreddedWheat_712x712.jpg.webp?itok=q6_JQf3z)](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/can-cereal-go-bad) Reading time: 5 min. Breakfast Ideas ## [What is the Best Way to Store Cereal](/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/can-cereal-go-bad) [View more](/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/can-cereal-go-bad "View more - What is the Best Way to Store Cereal") [![Man and a woman in a tent next to a fire with a bowl of cereal](/uk/sites/g/files/qirczx836/files/styles/1_1_450px_width/public/2025-09/Camping%20Breakfast%20Ideas_0.jpg.webp?itok=8KVpne5k)](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/camping-breakfast-ideas) Reading time: 5 min. Breakfast Ideas ## [Camping Breakfasts: Easy On-the-Go Ideas for Festivals & More!](/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/camping-breakfast-ideas) [View more](/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/camping-breakfast-ideas "View more - Camping Breakfasts: Easy On-the-Go Ideas for Festivals & More!") [![A bowl of go free corn flakes](/uk/sites/g/files/qirczx836/files/styles/1_1_450px_width/public/2022-08/A%20bowl%20of%20go%20free%20corn%20.jpeg.webp?h=dba1ec89&itok=oFbZ4bBL)](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/alternative-to-oats-for-breakfast) Reading time: 5 min. Breakfast Ideas ## [What to Have Instead of Oats for Breakfast](/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/alternative-to-oats-for-breakfast) [View more](/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/alternative-to-oats-for-breakfast "View more - What to Have Instead of Oats for Breakfast") [![Bowls of Cheerios on the table with a pair of sunglasses, fruit and a star chart](/uk/sites/g/files/qirczx836/files/styles/1_1_450px_width/public/2025-09/Cheerios%20summer%20breakfast%20ideas-min_0.jpg.webp?itok=w0wqW7fC)](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/summer-breakfast-ideas) Reading time: 5 min. Breakfast Ideas ## [Quick and Simple Summer Breakfast Ideas](/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/summer-breakfast-ideas) [View more](/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/summer-breakfast-ideas "View more - Quick and Simple Summer Breakfast Ideas") [![Mum and daughter eating an apple on a picnic](/uk/sites/g/files/qirczx836/files/styles/1_1_450px_width/public/2025-09/Picnic%20family_0.jpg.webp?itok=9-Oj5_P4)](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/picnic-food-ideas) Reading time: 5 min. Breakfast Ideas ## [Quick and Easy Picnic Food Ideas](/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/picnic-food-ideas) [View more](/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/picnic-food-ideas "View more - Quick and Easy Picnic Food Ideas") [![Shreddies in a white bowl, on a spring breakfast table with milk, berries and daffodils](/uk/sites/g/files/qirczx836/files/styles/1_1_450px_width/public/2025-09/Shreddies%20header%20image_0.jpg.webp?itok=prsR3Yxc)](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/is-breakfast-important) Reading time: 5 min. Breakfast Ideas ## [Is Breakfast Important?](/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/is-breakfast-important) [View more](/uk/blog/breakfast-ideas/is-breakfast-important "View more - Is Breakfast Important?") PreviousNext