Whole Grain Breakfast Cereal with No Added Sugar or Dairy

Ingredients

• 180 ml (¾ cup)Uncle Sam Original cereal
• 30 ml (2 tablespoons)raisins (or another chopped unsweetened dried fruit)
• 15 ml (1 tablespoon)unsweetened nut or seed butter
• 1.25 ml (¼ teaspoon)ground cinnamon
• A pinchsalt (omit if using salted nut or seed butter)
• 120 ml (½ cup), or as neededunsweetened dairy-free milk beverage
• 3–5 dropsvanilla liquid stevia
• 1 small or ½ a largebanana, diced

Instructions

1. 1

   Mix the cereal

   In a cereal bowl, combine the cereal, raisins, nut or seed butter, cinnamon and salt.

2. 2

   Add banana

   Scatter the diced banana over the cereal mixture.

3. 3

   Pour over milk

   If desired, sweeten the milk with stevia, then pour it over the cereal.

4. 4

   Serve straight away

   Eat while the cereal is still crunchy.

What is whole grain breakfast cereal?

This is a simple American-style cereal bowl built around whole-grain flakes, fruit and milk. The recipe needs no cooking, making it handy when breakfast has to come together quickly.

Raisins and banana add sweetness, while cinnamon and nut butter make the bowl more flavourful and satisfying. The butter also gives the crunchy cereal a granola-like quality.

Nutrition and macros by portion

The nutrition label shows one serving as written: 395 calories, 12g protein, 63g carbs, 13g fat.

Most of the carbohydrates come from the cereal, raisins and banana, while the nut or seed butter contributes much of the fat and some protein. The milk beverage may add a little protein depending on its type. For a more balanced plate, serve the bowl with a protein-rich side such as unsweetened soy yoghurt.

Choosing the cereal and butter

Whole-grain cereal: use the named cereal for the intended crunchy base. If substituting, choose a similar unsweetened or lightly sweetened cereal to keep the bowl's flavour balanced.

Nut or seed butter: almond, sunflower and peanut butter are suggested options. A salted variety can make the pinch of salt unnecessary.

Getting the texture right

Crunch: pour the milk over the bowl just before eating so the flakes have less time to soften. Add only as much milk as you like; the recipe allows for more than the stated 120 ml.

Butter: if it is firm, stir it into the cereal as best you can before adding the milk. It will loosen as it mixes with the other ingredients.

Balancing the sweetness

Fruit: raisins and banana provide the main fruity sweetness, so taste the bowl before adding much stevia to the milk.

Stevia: the recipe uses just 3–5 drops. Increase it if you use more milk, or leave it out if the fruit makes the cereal sweet enough for you.

A fast breakfast routine

This bowl takes about 5 minutes and is assembled rather than cooked. Dice the banana, then mix the cereal and toppings directly in the serving bowl.

Keep the milk separate until you are ready to eat. That small bit of timing helps preserve the cereal's crunch.

What to serve with it

The cereal, fruit and milk make this a complete-feeling bowl on their own. For a larger breakfast, serve it with extra fruit on the side.

If you prefer more protein or richness, the recipe suggests increasing the nut or seed butter to 2 tablespoons. You can also add more milk to suit your preferred consistency.

Recipe notes & tips

• Use a salted nut or seed butter only if you are happy to omit the added pinch of salt.
• Dice the banana into small pieces so it is easy to get some with each spoonful.
• Add the milk just before eating to help the cereal stay crunchy.
• Start with 3 drops of stevia and add more only if you want extra sweetness.
• Use chopped unsweetened dried fruit in place of the raisins if you prefer.

Variations

• Try sunflower butter: use it instead of nut butter for a seed-based option.
• Swap the dried fruit: use another chopped unsweetened dried fruit in place of the raisins.
• Use peanut butter: choose it for a more pronounced nutty flavour.
• Add extra butter: increase the nut or seed butter to 2 tablespoons for a richer bowl.
• Change the milk: use another unsweetened dairy-free milk beverage to suit your preference.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Adding milk too early: the cereal softens as it stands, so pour it over just before eating.
• Using salted butter with added salt: omit the pinch if your nut or seed butter is salted.
• Over-sweetening the milk: begin with 3 drops of stevia and taste before adding more.
• Adding too much milk: pour in the stated 120 ml first, then add more only if you want a looser bowl.

How to store

This bowl is best eaten freshly assembled, as the cereal loses its crunch once it sits in milk. If preparing ahead, keep the dry ingredients, diced banana and milk separate in the fridge; add the banana and milk when ready to serve.

Frequently asked questions