Millennials often avoid cereal due to the perceived inconvenience of cleaning a bowl, preferring quicker, no-cleanup options like yogurt or smoothies, alongside desires for healthier choices (less sugar/carbs), more interesting breakfasts (like brunch or bars), cost, less sugary options, and a shift away from traditional childhood staples towards artisanal or trend-driven foods.
At 82 percent, millennials are more likely than any other age group to say that cereal makes a great snack. The big issue here isn't that millennials aren't eating cereal, or that they think it's too much work. They aren't eating it for breakfast and they think it takes too much time for breakfast.
Growing up during a period of wartime along with economic depression has caused millennials to lose their sense of youth and innocence just as the lost generation did. Along with disillusionment with their current society, both generations felt a disconnect from traditional values.
Cereal consumption decreases with age among U.S. adults. Gen Z adults consume the most cereal: 67% eat cereal at least once or twice per week, compared to 45% of Baby Boomers.
This Is Why Millennials Actually Don't Eat Cereal
Gen Z breakfast is characterized by skipping meals for sleep/scrolling, prioritizing quick, portable, or customizable options like yogurt, fruit, smoothies, or toast, and a growing interest in nutrient-dense, "crunchy" whole foods (e.g., eggs, beef, vegetables) often inspired by TikTok trends, moving away from sugary cereals. Key themes include convenience, wellness, customization, and a "back-to-basics" approach driven by social media.
The rise of competing convenience foods, such as protein supplements (protein shakes) and meal kits, has intensified competition. Additionally, growing perceptions that cereal is "unhealthy due to high sugar content" have sparked controversies worldwide.
The 2-2-2 food rule is a simple guideline for leftover safety: get cooked food into the fridge within 2 hours, eat it within 2 days, or freeze it for up to 2 months to prevent bacteria growth, keeping it out of the temperature "danger zone" (40-140°F or 5-60°C).
Millennials like indulgent splurges, like all diners, but their flavor preferences show a hankering for healthy fare, too. In May 2015, NPD Group reported that millennials like fresh, less processed food. In addition to seeking out fresh food, millennials are also interested in eating more organic foods.
Recent research shows that members of the Baby Boomer generation have worse health than previous generations did at the same ages—diabetes, heart disease and other chronic illnesses are more common.
Meet the four types of millennials, from the Great Recession–blighted set to the 'peak' of the generation
One line of reasoning used to argue oats aren't healthy is that eating them can lead to spikes in blood sugar (glucose). This seems to be linked to the rising use of glucose monitors by people who don't have diabetes.
This stat from PEW Research says it all. Millennials are: “The first in modern era to have higher levels of student loan debt, poverty and unemployment, and lower levels of wealth and personal income than any other generation at the same stage of life.”
The 80/20 rule is super simple: you focus on eating healthy foods 80% of the time and allow yourself to indulge in not-so-healthy foods for the remaining 20%. It's all about striking a balance—getting your body the nutrition it needs while still enjoying your favorite treats without feeling guilty.
Strauss and Howe ascribe seven basic traits to the millennial cohort: special, sheltered, confident, team-oriented, conventional, pressured, and achieving.
Millennials love the ease and functionality of using apps. In the last month alone, 1 in 5 millennials have paid for a mobile app, and they're also 15% more likely than the average person to have used a bike or scooter app on their mobile in the last month.
Studies show that 32% of Gen Z members report poor mental, social, and spiritual health, compared to 23% of Millennials. Early exposure to stress has been linked to accelerated aging, meaning Gen Z could face physical and cognitive declines sooner.
Throw away all perishable foods that have been left in room temperature for more than 2 hours (1 hour if the temperature is over 90° F, such as at an outdoor picnic during summer). Cold perishable food, such as chicken salad or a platter of deli meats, should be kept at 40° F or below.
The "321 grocery method" refers to viral TikTok trends like the 5-4-3-2-1 or 3-3-2-2-1, which provide a simple framework for balanced, budget-friendly shopping by assigning numbers to food groups: 5 veggies, 4 fruits, 3 proteins, 2 grains/carbs, and 1 treat/sauce, or variations focusing on proteins, carbs, and veggies for meal prepping. This method cuts down on decision fatigue, reduces food waste, and encourages creative, mix-and-match meal building by focusing on essential whole foods rather than specific recipes.
Pastries, such as croissants, muffins, and donuts, are some of the unhealthiest breakfast choices. They're typically made with refined flour, added sugar, and unhealthy fats, creating a calorie-dense, sweet food with little nutritional value.
Did you know that Honey Nut Cheerios is the best- selling, most-popular, number one cereal in the United States? Even though the original “yellow-box” has a healthier nutrition profile (and started in 1941), the Honey Nut version, born in 1979, is by far the most popular.