# Is "eat your Wheaties" a meaningful phrase to you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 11, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eat-your-wheaties-a-meaningful-phrase-to-you/560312 "2010-11-11T15:17:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eat-your-wheaties-a-meaningful-phrase-to-you/560312/1 "2010-11-11T15:17:10Z")
My intern just gave me a completed task and told me he was going to start his next assignment, which is a big one, so I said “Good – I hope you had your Wheaties this morning.” He clearly had no idea what I was talking about, making me realize I don’t know when I last saw a Wheaties commercial. So – do you know the expression “eat your Wheaties,” and how old are you? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eat-your-wheaties-a-meaningful-phrase-to-you/560312/2 "2010-11-11T15:19:24Z")
Of course, but I’m an awesome old bastard. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eat-your-wheaties-a-meaningful-phrase-to-you/560312/3 "2010-11-11T15:24:07Z")
Yes. I am programmed with all the commercials shown during Saturday morning cartoons in the 70s. “Let’s get Mikey!” ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eat-your-wheaties-a-meaningful-phrase-to-you/560312/4 "2010-11-11T15:27:24Z")
It took me a second to remember the commercials, but yes. 28 ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eat-your-wheaties-a-meaningful-phrase-to-you/560312/5 "2010-11-11T15:54:07Z")
Yep, I remember the reference. They still make Wheaties don’t they? They just don’t advertise them much anymore. I guess the modern equivalent would be Frosted Mini Wheats which I hear keep you full and focused. Come to think of it, they still make all the old folks cereal, like Grape Nuts and Corn Flakes but you never see them advertised. I guess they save their advertising bucks for the stuff that appeals to kids or adults who need extra fiber. I used to like Grape Nuts but I don’t think my teeth could handle them anymore. Anyone remember Euell Gibbons? ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eat-your-wheaties-a-meaningful-phrase-to-you/560312/6 "2010-11-11T15:55:37Z")
Definitely. I even use the phrase. After all, it’s the Breakfast of Champions. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eat-your-wheaties-a-meaningful-phrase-to-you/560312/7 "2010-11-11T15:58:21Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Yes. I am programmed with all the commercials shown during Saturday morning cartoons in the 70s. > > “Let’s get Mikey!” “Pret-ty sneaky, sis!” (not a cereal commercial, but one that stuck with me). ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eat-your-wheaties-a-meaningful-phrase-to-you/560312/8 "2010-11-11T16:27:04Z")
I’m not sure that I actually learned the phrase from commercials–it’s just been around. Also, I’ve seen it written sometimes as “wheaties,” suggesting a slight decoupling from the name brand in colloquial usage. Wheaties are still around, and General Mills continues to put current champion athletes and [teams](http://www.shoppingblog.com/pics/wheaties_lakers_nba_champs_box_2010.jpg) on the boxes. “You Better Eat Your Wheaties” is a trademarked slogan. Their latest marketing campaign seems to be following Gatorade’s lead in producing a parallel product which is, even more than the original, allegedly for “serious” athletes–[Wheaties Fuel](http://larryfire.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/tmpphp2tzyzg.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eat-your-wheaties-a-meaningful-phrase-to-you/560312/9 "2010-11-11T16:27:32Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > “Pret-ty sneaky, sis!” (not a cereal commercial, but one that stuck with me). When you’re slow on the draw and need somethin’ to chaw, I hanker for a hunk o’ cheese. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eat-your-wheaties-a-meaningful-phrase-to-you/560312/10 "2010-11-11T16:30:24Z")
It’s all in the wrist. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eat-your-wheaties-a-meaningful-phrase-to-you/560312/11 "2010-11-11T16:36:26Z")
Yes. Mid-40’s. I even remember the John Belushi “little chocolate donuts” parody of the Bruce Jenner commercial. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eat-your-wheaties-a-meaningful-phrase-to-you/560312/12 "2010-11-11T16:37:35Z")
Of course, but now people eat more granola and yogurt than Wheaties. In fact, the other day I was at an Antiques mall and one of the vendors had a box of Wheaties with Joe Montana on it. It made me feel old. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eat-your-wheaties-a-meaningful-phrase-to-you/560312/13 "2010-11-11T17:18:42Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > Anyone remember Euell Gibbons? Yeah he was the guy that went around saying “Ever eat a pine cone”? He went around promoting natural foods. Then he died of natural causes 😃 ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eat-your-wheaties-a-meaningful-phrase-to-you/560312/14 "2010-11-11T17:35:25Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Yes. I am programmed with all the commercials shown during Saturday morning cartoons in the 70s. > > “Let’s get Mikey!” Is that you, old weird Harold? ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eat-your-wheaties-a-meaningful-phrase-to-you/560312/15 "2010-11-11T17:38:58Z")
Of course, but I’m old as dirt. However, I’d rather “Have breakfast with the king…” ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eat-your-wheaties-a-meaningful-phrase-to-you/560312/16 "2010-11-11T17:39:01Z")
Harold? ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eat-your-wheaties-a-meaningful-phrase-to-you/560312/17 "2010-11-11T17:41:32Z")
I’ve heard and understood it for years now. I’m currently 30. ---
**Author:** ![QuercusMax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/8baadc/32.png) [@QuercusMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuercusMax)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eat-your-wheaties-a-meaningful-phrase-to-you/560312/18 "2010-11-11T17:48:45Z")
I’m 28, and while I can’t say I specifically recall seeing those commercials, it seems like you’d have to be extraordinarily thick not to know what it means, or at least guess it from the context. But maybe I’ve lost touch with those 8 years my junior… ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eat-your-wheaties-a-meaningful-phrase-to-you/560312/19 "2010-11-11T17:55:41Z")
45, remember the commercials well. Also remember the highly amusing SNL spoof, [Little Chocolate Donuts](http://www.ifood.tv/video/john_belushis_little_chocolate_donuts) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eat-your-wheaties-a-meaningful-phrase-to-you/560312/20 "2010-11-11T18:20:01Z")
> [@Phlosphr](#): > > Of course, but now people eat more granola and yogurt than Wheaties. > > In fact, the other day I was at an Antiques mall and one of the vendors had a box of Wheaties with Joe Montana on it. It made me feel old. Mmm… Antique Wheaties. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eat-your-wheaties-a-meaningful-phrase-to-you/560312.md?page=2)