Serial Cereal

I have a really, really hard time keeping cereal (any kind) without eating too much of it in one sitting. I've always been this way, and I've noticed that many others on this site have similar issues.

It's the one single form of food that I honestly feel the least amount of self control with. Oatmeal is excluded, and most times, the only thing akin to cereal in my cupboard.

Does anyone know why this is such a common issue? Is it because if the high carb and sugar content is so many cereals? Because they are easy to eat? The crunch? The box factor? The fast spike in serotonin and blood sugar?

What exactly is it? It's been a real love/hate issue for me!

I honestly don't know why but I have the exact same problem!!!!

I hate that i cant eat less than 3 bowls of cereal at one time. Its so frustrating ughhh. Nice to know im not the only one though. maybe we can figure out a solution together. hmm....maybe its bc cereal doesnt particulary fill you up and its so fast and easy to eat. Plus it doesn't look like a alot of calories so it tricks your mind! haha i have no idea.

yes i hear you, i have a hard time stopping at just one bowl especially w/ the sugary cereals... In order to control myself, i now buy kashi go lean and measure out a cup for one serving. I also eat it dry without milk so it takes me longer to eat. I find that i eat a lot quicker w/ the milk, i don't know why, maybe b/c the cereal gets soggier?

does kashi taste good, have u tried the bars?

always looked delicious to me.

Original Post by sexy_vixen:

does kashi taste good, have u tried the bars?

always looked delicious to me.

Kashi tastes like cardboard, but it's good for you.

Cereal bingeing is quite common.  It's easy to eat a lot if you are distracted (reading, talking, watching a movie) while eating.  Also, most cereals don't have much protein or fat, which are key to satiation.  I have a few Ideas that might help you:

1.  Just stop buying cereal.  There's plenty of other things to have for breakfast (eggs, english muffins, etc).  If you must have a cereal, try oatmeal or grits.  If you have to prepare the cereal, you will be more conscious of how much you are consuming.

2.  Try either buying those single serve cereals, or measuring and putting the cereal in ziplock bags.  Voila!  

3.  Don't eat straight out of the box.  

Do people really eat cereal straight out of the box?  That's just asking for trouble!  I used to do it with chips/crackers/etc., and portioning out the right amount then putting away the box before eating any has helped me to not binge on those foods anymore.

Thanks for the replies guys, but in all honesty, swimfan & susiecue you might not really understand how much the cereal things actually differs with respect to other foods for me (and apparently others). I have always had an incredibly solid nutiriotnal, fitness and general health working knowledge. Portioning, nutritional information, fat/carb/pro. ratios, etc... I have a pretty good grip on all of it. But with cereal... nope. It may as well be a drug.

I don't really keep it in the house. My roommate does. I've eaten oatmeal on most mornings for about the past  years.... and as for the Kashi, the whole reason I posted this was due to a box of go lean crunch that I ate half of .... at once.... yeah.

If I start eating... I just can't stop. I am fine with other foods, but cereal is a pitfall. I got on a Corn Pop kick with my 2nd pregnancy. I limited myself to one BIG box a week.

Most cereals aren't very filling (satiating). Milk helps "fill you up" but it also makes it go down a LOT faster. I've simply given up on all dry cereals. I eat oatmeal almost every morning.

I have 3 children and a lot of cereals in my house (right now, Captain Crunch, Rice Krispies, Corn Flakes, Harvest Crunch, HoneyNut Cheerios, Apple Cinnamon Cheerios, Blue Menu Cranberry something, and Corn Pops). I keep them separate from all the other foods and avoid them. Whenever possible, I will even get my husband or eldest daughter to "prepare" it for the younger children.

Good luck with your cereal battle!!!

I have never had this problem but then again I buy a cereal that has one of the lowest calorie counts of the lot so wouldn't get a sugar rush from it, maybe if you tried a low fat low sugar cereal you could combat it?

Also eat it slowly, I know that the days when I am running late and gulp down my cereal I do feel hungry shortly afterwards as the brain hasn't had time to get the full message so maybe its also to do with the speed at which you consume the cereal?

I have the same problem, especially with granola, cheerios & frootloops. The best way, ive found, is to measure out a serving according to the box, take an extra spoonful, and look at the bowl. Memorize how much is in there, and put the box away, maybe even in a different spot.