As cereals gained popularity in commercial grocery stores, they also proved to be a beloved breakfast option for the military in troop rations and commissary shelves. (2024)

The United States has been producing ready-made cereals for over 130 years.

FORT LEE, Va. – The United States has been producing ready-made cereals for over 130 years. As cereals gained popularity in commercial grocery stores, they also proved to be a beloved breakfast option for the military in troop rations and commissary shelves.

There are so many different kinds of cereals for service members and their families to choose from at their local commissary – dry cold cereal or hot cereals, either instant or cooked, said Marine Sgt. Maj. Michael R. Saucedo, senior enlisted advisor to the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) director.

"When you're in the field you appreciate those special treats in your rations, and cereals have always been that bonus for us," Saucedo said. "Back in garrison, we want service members and their families to know if they're not buying their cereal in their commissary, they're missing out on overall savings of at least 25 percent compared to prices at 'outside the gate' grocery stores – that means savings of at least $50 on a $200 grocery bill!"

So, what's the story behind cereal and the U.S. military?

During the American Civil War, 1861-1865, Schumacher's Oats were a mainstay for the troops. More than 50 years later during World War I, little had changed as oatmeal and cream of wheat remained popular.

During World War II, some government nutritionists teamed up with several American cereal companies and began adding dry cereal to the B Unit ration kits of soldiers. Of course, these rations didn't contain the sugar sparkles or prizes found in many popular children's cereals. However, they did have a mixture of oats, rice and wheat cereal in a small brown package.

By the Vietnam War, the military B-4 ration can also had dry cereal. Today, military MREs also contain dry cereal and the dining facilities serve individual-sized cereals on their breakfast line.

For the nutritiously conscious, certain breakfast cereals can be an important source of energy, carbohydrates, protein and fiber as well as vitamins E, B, magnesium and zinc, and many contain little to no sugar and are very high in fiber.

And if it's about making nutritious choices and saving money on cereal, Saucedo encourages service members and their families to shop their commissary.

"If you purchase the right kind of cereal, it can be a good way to start your day," Saucedo said. "And, if you bought that cereal at your local commissary, you've purchased a popular breakfast treat at the best possible savings."

-DeCA-

About DeCA: The Defense Commissary Agency operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping environment. Commissaries provide a military benefit, saving authorized patrons thousands of dollars annually on their purchases compared to similar products at commercial retailers. The discounted prices include a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. A core military family support element, and a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America's military and their families, and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.

Stay Connected to Your Commissary Benefit

COMMISSARIES.COM: Visit https://www.commissaries.com/ to learn more about the Defense Commissary Agency: check out the latest news, find a store near you, see what's on sale, create a shopping list, learn of food and product recalls, scan employment opportunities, read frequently asked questions, submit a customer comment form online through DeCA's Your Action Line and more.

FACEBOOK: Visit www.facebook.com/YourCommissary, DeCA's Facebook page, where you can post comments and share news, photos and videos.

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As cereals gained popularity in commercial grocery stores, they also proved to be a beloved breakfast option for the military in troop rations and commissary shelves. (2024)

FAQs

Why did breakfast cereal become popular? ›

Kellogg and Battle Creek, Michigan

Packaged breakfast cereals were considerably more convenient than a product that had to be cooked, and as a result of this convenience (and clever marketing), they became popular.

What appeared in the 1940's and have gone on to become the best selling cereal in America? ›

Fast-forward to the 1940s, when General Mills released the now-household-name cereal Cheerios, originally named CheeriOats [2]. In 1979, the company made Honey Nut Cheerios, the brand's most popular version.

What is a commissary in the military? ›

Commissaries are basically your neighborhood grocery store, located on military installations worldwide. The commissary sells food and household items at prices that are often below other grocery stores. On average, you can cut nearly a third off your grocery bill compared to in-town prices.

When was commissary first used? ›

The earliest known use of the noun commissary is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).

What is the number 1 selling breakfast cereal? ›

1. Cheerios. America's favorite cereal by both revenue and boxes sold is Cheerios.

What was the original purpose of cereal? ›

Originally invented as a breakfast food to counter indigestion, it has become a popular food item in the American diet. The cereal, originally made with wheat, was created by Will Kellogg in 1894 for patients at the Battle Creek Sanitarium where he worked with his brother John Kellogg who was the superintendent.

Was there cereal in the 1950s? ›

Many of our most beloved cereals were invented in the 1950's. With the boom in television and advertising, companies were able to market themselves using mascots and appealing to children with sugary cereals. Tony the Tiger, a cereal icon, made his debut in 1950's as well.

What did people eat for breakfast before cereal? ›

It was generally meat. That's why kelogg who was a vegetarian created cereal as a replacement vegetarian breakfast. Today we're beginning to learn that meat was much healthier than cereal is. If available people ate eggs and often some type of bread be it corn bread or biscuits or pancakes.

What was the first commercial cereal? ›

Kellogg also created a cereal like Jackson's and even named it Granula, until a lawsuit forced him to change the name to Granola. Together with his brother, Will Kellogg, John developed the first commercial cereal flake. Their cereal, Granose Flakes, hit the market in 1896.

Can civilians buy from the commissary? ›

Authorized commissary patrons as defined by Department of Defense Instruction 1330.17, Dod Commissary Program , include active duty, Guard and Reserve members, military retirees, Medal of Honor recipients, 100 percent disabled veterans, and their authorized family members.

What does px mean on a military base? ›

post exchange. noun. : a store at a military post that sells to people in or associated with the armed forces.

Can all veterans use the commissary now? ›

Veterans with any service-connected disability. Purple Heart recipients. Former Prisoners of war, and. Individuals approved and designated as the primary family caregivers of eligible Veterans under the Department of Veterans Affairs Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers.

Why do prisons allow commissary? ›

This is the prison equivalent of the local supermarket. Since packages from family and friends are not allowed in federal prisons, the commissary is an inmate's only opportunity to get the amenities that can make serving time more bearable.

What rank is a commissary general? ›

Commissary General (equivalent to a Brigadier General)

What is a food commissary? ›

Commissaries are commercial kitchens food services can rent to prepare and store food. Many commissary kitchens offer overnight parking and equipment storage to food trucks and mobile vendors.

How did breakfast become popular? ›

Going into the Middle Ages, people largely shunned eating in the morning because it was viewed as being gluttonous and therefore sinful. The roots of the modern conception of breakfast go back to the Industrial Revolution. During this time, more people were entering the workforce and putting in a hard day's work.

Why do so many Americans prefer cereal for breakfast? ›

American cereal has a century-long history, not in flavor and culture but also in marketing and packaging design. It became America's default breakfast food as a result of a brilliant campaign that capitalized on the intersection of industrialization, changing class attitudes, and health consciousness.

Why do Millennials not eat cereal? ›

According to an article posted last week on the New York Times, almost 40 percent of the millennials surveyed said they don't eat cereal because it's inconvenient to have to clean up afterward — and now the Internet is blowing up. Are you for cereal? Cereal is a convenience food.

When did cereal and milk become popular? ›

According to what seems to have become a somewhat standardized history, the collision of milk and cereal dates to about the 1860s (or perhaps the 1870s), when a breakfast cereal predecessor called granula came into being.

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