# Millenials eating less cereal, because they have to wash a bowl **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 11, 2016, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millenials-eating-less-cereal-because-they-have-to-wash-a-bowl/757098 "2016-06-11T11:42:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2016, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millenials-eating-less-cereal-because-they-have-to-wash-a-bowl/757098/21 "2016-06-11T16:08:34Z")
I heard this story months ago and, when shopping with my teen son who asked for some cereal, I told him about it. He said “Don’t blame me, I’m asking for cereal now!” Then he went home and ate it out of the box by the handful while playing video games. 😛 > [@mind\_the\_gap](#): > > I reminded them that back in my day you could get cereal in little single serving boxes THAT CONVERTED INTO A BOWL! When you were done you could throw it out. Gone. No washing. They weren’t marketed as “no washing”, the idea was that you could eat cereal on the go by buying a little half-pint milk. It was less “no washing” and more “No need to carry a bowl with you everywhere in order to enjoy cereal”. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2016, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millenials-eating-less-cereal-because-they-have-to-wash-a-bowl/757098/22 "2016-06-11T16:17:30Z")
> [@mind\_the\_gap](#): > > Just before I yelled at them to G.T.H.O.M.L., I reminded them that back in my day you could get cereal in little single serving boxes THAT CONVERTED INTO A BOWL! When you were done you could throw it out. Gone. No washing. They’ve been replaced with the equally convenient, but less soggy cereal cups. You can get them in the [sugar rush](https://www.amazon.com/Kelloggs-Cereal-Favorites-Variety-2-8-Ounce/dp/B000CSEFQ0/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1465661472&sr=8-1&keywords=cereal+cups) or [wellness](https://www.amazon.com/Kelloggs-Cereal-Cup-Assortment-Pack/dp/B000CSBVOO/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1465661472&sr=8-2&keywords=cereal+cups) options. The links are to Amazon multi-packs, but you can get individual varieties of most popular cereals in any drugstore. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2016, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millenials-eating-less-cereal-because-they-have-to-wash-a-bowl/757098/23 "2016-06-11T16:29:32Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Their habits fill up landfills faster than mine. Yes, that’s awful. Yes, but there are people more virtuous than you who are filling up landfills _even slower_, so you’re awful too. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2016, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millenials-eating-less-cereal-because-they-have-to-wash-a-bowl/757098/24 "2016-06-11T16:30:49Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > They’ve been replaced with the equally convenient, but less soggy cereal cups. You can get them in the [sugar rush](https://www.amazon.com/Kelloggs-Cereal-Favorites-Variety-2-8-Ounce/dp/B000CSEFQ0/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1465661472&sr=8-1&keywords=cereal+cups) or [wellness](https://www.amazon.com/Kelloggs-Cereal-Cup-Assortment-Pack/dp/B000CSBVOO/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1465661472&sr=8-2&keywords=cereal+cups) options. The links are to Amazon multi-packs, but you can get individual varieties of most popular cereals in any drugstore. I don’t like those cups. 1. They come with too much cereal in them. Sometimes I dump out a third because I can’t eat all of it. 2. The container isn’t a bowl. It’s a cup. A bowl’s shape makes it so that every cereal particle gets its fair shake of milk soakage. But you don’t get that effect in a cup. In a cup, everything on the bottom gets soaked (and soggified), while the cereal on the top is dry and unpleasant. ---
**Author:** ![elliott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5ac83/32.png) [@elliott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elliott)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2016, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millenials-eating-less-cereal-because-they-have-to-wash-a-bowl/757098/25 "2016-06-11T17:23:05Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > There you go - millennials are just as ignorant about nutrition as other “generations”. > > If all you know about cereal is Fruit Loops and Cap’n Crunch, then yeah they’re junky. But there are [plenty](http://greatist.com/health/best-healthy-cereal-brands) of [healthy](http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/breakfast-cereal) cereal options, especially when you don’t eat the whole box at one sitting and add fruit.\* > > \*I had a bowl of combined mini-wheats and dark chocolate/almond organic non-GMO/handmade by virginal Bernie Sanders supporters granola this morning, with raspberries and just-picked serviceberries from my garden. I’m feeling so healthy I can’t stand it - though I was too lazy to wash out the bowl afterwards. The opportunity cost of eating a bowl of cereal is pretty terrible. If your goal is to lose weight, cereal is terrible. None of the cereals on that page are getting you under 300 calories a bowl when you add milk, and many are going to be near 500. If you’re trying to build muscle, cereal has very little protein, especially compared to microwaving some eggs+cottage cheese. You’re comparing ~40g protein in the eggs+cheese compared to maybe 10 in the cereal and milk. Changing attitudes towards nutrition are likely going to see cereal even less popular. People are finally realizing low fat is meaningless and pure calorie counting and carb restriction are usually the most maintainable options. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2016, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millenials-eating-less-cereal-because-they-have-to-wash-a-bowl/757098/26 "2016-06-11T19:58:30Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Their habits fill up landfills faster than mine. Yes, that’s awful. What if they like toast for breakfast? Or apples? Or bacon? Maybe they’re eating actual food rather than highly processed sugar puffs? I never eat cereal because I never have milk in the house. OH NOES - I’m too lazy to buy milk every week! There’s no virtue attached to eating cereal. It’s inconvenient, it leaves you hungry and it’s not even all that good for you. Put some peanut butter on a nice wheat bread. It’s faster, you can hold it one hand, and you won’t be hungry again in two hours. And it doesn’t involve landfills in any way. Win-win! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2016, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millenials-eating-less-cereal-because-they-have-to-wash-a-bowl/757098/27 "2016-06-11T20:21:16Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > What if they like toast for breakfast? Or apples? Or bacon? Maybe they’re eating actual food rather than highly processed sugar puffs? > > I never eat cereal because I never have milk in the house. OH NOES - I’m too lazy to buy milk every week! > > There’s no virtue attached to eating cereal. It’s inconvenient, it leaves you hungry and it’s not even all that good for you. > > Put some peanut butter on a nice wheat bread. It’s faster, you can hold it one hand, and you won’t be hungry again in two hours. And it doesn’t involve landfills in any way. Win-win! But the knife. You have to wash it. Put the peanut butter on the bread with your finger! ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2016, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millenials-eating-less-cereal-because-they-have-to-wash-a-bowl/757098/28 "2016-06-11T21:06:40Z")
> [@mind\_the\_gap](#): > > So I hear this noise out on the lawn and there’s a bunch of god damn kids arguing about whether or not they can eat cereal because they have to wash the bowl. Just before I yelled at them to G.T.H.O.M.L., I reminded them that back in my day you could get cereal in little single serving boxes THAT CONVERTED INTO A BOWL! When you were done you could throw it out. Gone. No washing. (On a serious note, they may or may not still make these. I’ve been attempting to chase slow loading threads on this matter but with limited success. Kellogg evidently was thinking of re-introducing this concept in 1989.) Those still exist. I never buy them, but they’ve been provided at every hotel I can remember. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2016, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millenials-eating-less-cereal-because-they-have-to-wash-a-bowl/757098/29 "2016-06-11T21:37:50Z")
> [@elliott](#): > > The opportunity cost of eating a bowl of cereal is pretty terrible. If your goal is to lose weight, cereal is terrible. None of the cereals on that page are getting you under 300 calories a bowl when you add milk, and many are going to be near 500. “Opportunity cost”? The thing about cereal is, you can actually utilize a technique called “portion control” and only eat a limited amount. Whereas (for example) eating a single protein/energy bar can easily account for 200-300 calories, assuming you confine yourself to just one. Based on the number of fat millennials I see, not many are doing that. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2016, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millenials-eating-less-cereal-because-they-have-to-wash-a-bowl/757098/30 "2016-06-11T22:32:30Z")
Yeah, I find it is very easy to pour exactly as much cereal as I want into the bowl. Also, I like milk. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2016, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millenials-eating-less-cereal-because-they-have-to-wash-a-bowl/757098/31 "2016-06-11T23:07:17Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > “Opportunity cost”? > > The thing about cereal is, you can actually utilize a technique called “portion control” and only eat a limited amount. Whereas (for example) eating a single protein/energy bar can easily account for 200-300 calories. Portion control can be utilized on any food. Just eat half the bar and save the rest for later. ---
**Author:** ![elliott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5ac83/32.png) [@elliott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elliott)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2016, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millenials-eating-less-cereal-because-they-have-to-wash-a-bowl/757098/32 "2016-06-12T00:24:13Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > “Opportunity cost”? > > The thing about cereal is, you can actually utilize a technique called “portion control” and only eat a limited amount. Whereas (for example) eating a single protein/energy bar can easily account for 200-300 calories, assuming you confine yourself to just one. > > Based on the number of fat millennials I see, not many are doing that. So I’m allowed to eat half of a bowl of cereal but not half a protein bar? Seems a bit sus to me. You could just eat cottage cheese or added protein oatmeal and have the same “half-bowl” effect too. On top of that, a single protein bar or fried egg or anything not carb heavy will keep you full much longer as well as stabilize blood sugar. With 400 calories of cereal, you’re getting nearly 70 grams of carbs and maybe 10 of protein from the milk. With 400 calories of eggs, you’re getting nearly 6 eggs, which is a ton of food keeping you full likely past lunch, as well almost 50 grams of protein, and closer to 75 if you mix in some cottage cheese. Eating cereal day-to-day is the objectively worse choice compared to a high protein diet, and its arguably worse than just not eating a breakfast at all. Also, Obesity is highest among the 45-65 age group. Millennials (18-25 year olds) have almost half the obesity rate, 20.4% vs 38.9% in my state. Seems like being lazy wins in the public health arena. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2016, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millenials-eating-less-cereal-because-they-have-to-wash-a-bowl/757098/33 "2016-06-12T01:08:49Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > Put some peanut butter on a nice wheat bread. It’s faster, you can hold it one hand, and you won’t be hungry again in two hours. And it doesn’t involve landfills in any way. Do you keep your peanut butter in a big lump on the kitchen counter or something? ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2016, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millenials-eating-less-cereal-because-they-have-to-wash-a-bowl/757098/34 "2016-06-12T01:31:27Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Do you keep your peanut butter in a big lump on the kitchen counter or something? No. That’s where the cat sleeps. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2016, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millenials-eating-less-cereal-because-they-have-to-wash-a-bowl/757098/35 "2016-06-12T03:36:48Z")
> [@elliott](#): > > With 400 calories of eggs, you’re getting nearly 6 eggs, which is a ton of food keeping you full likely past lunch, as well almost 50 grams of protein, and closer to 75 if you mix in some cottage cheese. Eating cereal day-to-day is the objectively worse choice compared to a high protein diet, and its arguably worse than just not eating a breakfast at all. Who the hell eats 6 eggs and almost a cup of cottage cheese for one meal? I agree with your overall premise that protein \> carbs, but that is a shitton of food. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2016, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millenials-eating-less-cereal-because-they-have-to-wash-a-bowl/757098/36 "2016-06-12T03:50:08Z")
[QUOTE=z78817] the sad thing is that the people who complain about “kids today” don’t want to admit that they’re the reason kids are the way they are. [/QUOTE] > [@QuickSilver](#): > > They’re the reason the irritating little bastards even exists. As someone the media classifies as part of Generation X, I’m not really bothered by Millenials. In fact, I rather appreciate the irony of Boomers bitching the loudest about them since it’s my understanding Millenials are mostly the offspring of the Baby Boomers. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2016, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millenials-eating-less-cereal-because-they-have-to-wash-a-bowl/757098/37 "2016-06-12T03:58:43Z")
> [@lorene](#): > > Who the hell eats 6 eggs and almost a cup of cottage cheese for one meal? I agree with your overall premise that protein \> carbs, but that is a shitton of food. I think that was the point, that for roughly the same calories as a bowl of cereal and milk then you could eat a LOT of some other kind of food. However, if you follow the suggested serving size I don’t think many cereals are 400 calories even with milk. The only cereal I have in the house is some Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds from when my mother was visiting, and that’s 130 calories per 3/4 cup serving dry and 170 with 1/2 cup of skim milk. That said, a big reason why I don’t normally eat cereal myself anymore (I’m an Xer and did eat cereal pretty much every morning for about 30 years) is that I realized the suggested serving size was less than what I habitually poured into my bowl and that if I stuck to the suggested serving I was hungry before lunchtime. A 5.3 oz. container of Greek yogurt has about the same number of calories as the suggested serving of dry cereal, and I personally find it more filling. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2016, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millenials-eating-less-cereal-because-they-have-to-wash-a-bowl/757098/38 "2016-06-12T04:04:52Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > I heard this story months ago and, when shopping with my teen son who asked for some cereal, I told him about it. He said “Don’t blame me, I’m asking for cereal now!” > > Then he went home and ate it out of the box by the handful while playing video games. 😛 > > They weren’t marketed as “no washing”, the idea was that you could eat cereal on the go by buying a little half-pint milk. It was less “no washing” and more “No need to carry a bowl with you everywhere in order to enjoy cereal”. I’ve seen them in the stores recently. My grandmother used to buy them so everyone would have something we liked, although we were never allowed to eat it directly from the box. I really think they were marketed to campers, so they could simply toss the container into the bonfire afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2016, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millenials-eating-less-cereal-because-they-have-to-wash-a-bowl/757098/39 "2016-06-12T04:07:03Z")
> [@lorene](#): > > Who the hell eats 6 eggs and almost a cup of cottage cheese for one meal? I agree with your overall premise that protein \> carbs, but that is a shitton of food. You’ve never lived with a teenage boy, have you? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2016, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millenials-eating-less-cereal-because-they-have-to-wash-a-bowl/757098/40 "2016-06-12T05:58:04Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > You’ve never lived with a teenage boy, have you? Mine is about as likely to cook six eggs as he is to cook a pot roast. Heck, he didn’t bother to pour his cereal into a bowl… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millenials-eating-less-cereal-because-they-have-to-wash-a-bowl/757098.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millenials-eating-less-cereal-because-they-have-to-wash-a-bowl/757098.md?page=3)