M. Suzanne Terry

[The makers of this cereal saw me coming. And it did not disappoint.]

Growing up, we mostly ate sensible, real food and balanced meals. We regularly ate dinner together as a family, especially when we were young. There was a main dish (typically meat or some type of casserole), a few sides, some type of bread, and usually something for dessert.

For breakfast most days, though, we were on our own while everyone was getting themselves ready, and we needed something simple we could make ourselves. So we almost always had a few boxes of cereal in the house. There are several that hold a bit of nostalgia for me:

• Cheerios
• Froot Loops
• Corn Pops (known as their original name from Mom’s childhood, Sugar Pops, at our house)
• Rice Krispies (and occasionally, Cocoa Krispies)
• Chex (rice, corn, or wheat, depending on what was on sale)
• Grape Nuts (neither grapes nor nuts but a fantastic topping for ice cream)

We also frequently had snack cakes at our house. They were easy sweet treats that no one had to take the time to make. Mom often included them in our lunch boxes. Is it necessary to provide a dessert in a child’s lunch box? No. But when you are raised (as she was) to consider dessert an essential part of a whole meal, well, old habits die hard. We had Zebra Cakes (although they were just called Snak Cakes when we were little) and the Oatmeal Creme Pies and Honey Buns and Swiss Cake Rolls (my personal favorite). Little Debbie’s competitor, Hostess, also made some of our favorites – Twinkies and Ding Dongs (and to a lesser extent, the regular cupcakes).

Today, I try not to purchase snack cakes very often. I will eat too many at once and get that wild feeling behind my eyes that happens when I eat too much sugar. Ditto for sugary cereals (although I usually have some Cheerios or Chex or Kix around for nights when I don’t want to make anything).

But when I saw the Swiss Cake Roll Cereal in the grocery store last week, I just couldn’t resist. Good going, marketing team. Let me introduce you to your target consumer (me). I tried to lower my standards before trying them. I mean, there was a good chance they were not going to be great. Sometimes these things don’t go well at all.

They tasted like Cocoa Krispies. And yes, I drank the faux chocolate milk the cereal made right out of the bowl at the end, just like I did when I was little (including spilling it on my shirt).

Thanks for the memories, Little Debbie and Kellogg’s. 10/10, will purchase again.

I’m waxing nostalgic about food, family, and home this month.