With carbohydrates, fibre and essential vitamins and minerals, cereals can be a nutrient-packed start to millions of people’s mornings daily. Breakfast cereals transform these grains into a quick, convenient, and versatile breakfast option.
But have you ever wondered what goes into your favourite bowl of cereals? In this guide, we’ll explore the different types of grains that serve as the foundation to our breakfast cereals, and how they transform into the delicious options we love.
Cereal grains play a vital role in diets worldwide, offering essential nutrients and versatility. Here are some common types:
Oats: Oats are a popular and naturally high-fibre grain. They are commonly enjoyed as porridge and are also found in granola and many other baked products. Oats are a key ingredient of our Cheerios®!
Whole grain cereals contain all three parts of the grain – the bran, germ, and endosperm – retaining more fibre and some nutrients.
Many Nestlé Cereals are made with whole grain, and we are committed to making whole grain a key ingredient in our breakfast cereals. All Nestlé Cereals with the Green Banner have whole grain as their number one ingredient.
In the UK and EU, a food can be labelled as “high in fibre” if it contains at least 6 grams of fibre per 100 grams of the product. High-fibre cereals are often made with grains like wheat and barley, and can be a delicious way to support your diet.
Yes, there are many gluten-free breakfast cereal options available, often made from grains like corn or rice. Nestlé offers a range of Go Free® gluten-free cereals, providing delicious alternatives for those avoiding gluten.
Breakfast cereals, made from various cereal grains, offer diverse tastes, textures, and nutrition, sup
High-fibre cereals, like our Shreddies® Original are rich in dietary fibre, and often contain additional vitamins and minerals to support a balanced diet.
When trying to get more fibre into your diet it is important to note that in the UK the recommended adult daily fibre intake is 30g, while for children this varies by age:
Age (years) |
Recommended intake of fibre |
| 2-5 | 15g per day |
| 5-11 | 20g per day |
| 11-14 | 25g per day |
| 15 and over | 30g per day |
SACN Carbohydrates and Health Report, The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition recommendations on carbohydrates, including sugars and fibre. Public Health England 2016.
For those looking to reduce their sugar intake, Shredded Wheat® Original are an excellent choice. They contain no added sugars —just one simple ingredient: whole grain wheat. With nothing extra added, it’s a straightforward breakfast cereal that is made from 100% whole grain wheat.
*Contains naturally occurring sugars
Whole grain cereals are made from grains that retain all three of their natural layers (the bran, germ, and endosperm) which contain different nutrients and fibre. This makes whole grains a valuable component of a balanced diet. Looking to add a bit more fibre to your day? Just keep an eye out for the green banner on our cereal packs - it’s there to show that whole grain is the main ingredient and that the cereal is a source of fibre to help you start your morning right.
Examples of whole grains used in our breakfast cereals include:
Starting your day with a bowl of fortified whole grain breakfast cereals is a delicious way to start the day. These kinds of breakfast cereals, such as Original Shreddies® Cereal contain added vitamins and minerals as well as fibre from the whole grains.
Vegan breakfast cereals offer a breakfast option, formulated without any animal products. These cereals are suitable for those following a plant-based lifestyle and don’t include any plant-based proteins or sweeteners.
Nestlé offers a variety of vegan cereals, including our Coco, Frosted and Original Shreddies®, Shredded Wheat® Original, Bitesize, Shredded Wheat® Apricot Wheats, Shredded Wheat® Blueberry Wheats and Shredded Wheat® Red Berry Wheats as well as our Go Free® Corn Flakes. For more information, check out our article on vegan breakfast ideas.
Gluten-free cereals provide a suitable breakfast option for individuals avoiding gluten containing cereals such as wheat, barley, or rye. Made with grains like rice, corn or quinoa, gluten free cereals such as Go Free® Gluten Free Corn Flakes offer a light and crispy texture while still delivering the familiar taste of a classic breakfast cereal.
Breakfast cereals can also be enjoyed warm. For a comforting option, consider using warm milk with cereals like Shredded Wheat®. This provides a warm and soothing breakfast, particularly suitable for colder mornings. Learn more about hot or cold milk with your cereals.
Looking to level up your cereal game? Whether you’re into low sugar, high fibre, or warming hot cereals, these tasty toppings can bring extra flavour, texture, and variety to every spoonful:
Breakfast cereal is versatile and can be incorporated into many recipes beyond just a bowl of milk. If you have some cereal at home, and fancy something either sweet or savoury, we have a wide variety of cereal recipes for you to try out.
