An open (love) letter to cereal.

Dear Nutri-Grain,

Firstly I need to start by apologising for taking you for granted all of these years. I have undermined your value in my life and not quite given you the kudos that you so richly deserve.

And I know you won’t be expecting to get this letter from me today. In fact, like the humble cereal that you are, you’re probably still going about your day like any other, being poured into a bowl, ready to fill up the ever hungry masses. But I need you to know something. Something that like so many other times in your life, might go without recognition.

You are a lifesaver.

No, I’m not overstating this; you have saved the day (and the night) on more than one occasion.

Let me explain.

In a family where two of my three children are teenagers, I simply cannot ever seem to fill them up. Nor can I ever seem to please them all with the food on offer. Except when it comes to you. On you, they all agree. So when it’s up to me each morning to get three children ready for the day, out the door and at school on time, you take the stress out of one very important task – breakfast.

The thing I didn’t count on when I became a mum was the pressure and guilt that comes with providing your children with healthy and nutritious meals. It’s like we have this halo hanging precariously over our heads. You know what I’m talking about right? The supposed halo that all mothers wear when feeding their children the ‘best’ food possible?

Well that’s great on paper, but actually getting your kids to eat and ENJOY the ‘good’ food you’re serving them, I’ve discovered are two completely different things.

That’s why having a box of Nutri-Grain in the cupboard at all times isn’t just great, it’s a necessity.

Because you ease my guilt, Nutri-Grain. Now that you have a 4 Star health rating, I don’t feel at all that I have to explain why sometimes my son might just have you for breakfast and also then be the first thing he grabs when he comes home from school.

The thing is, he’s growing but I am also ever conscious that I need to be feeding him nutritious food to fuel that growth. Food that will aid him with his development and give him enough energy for all the sports he’s involved in.

I need to thank you especially for some tough times you’ve gotten me through. Not to put this lightly, you’ve saved my sanity on more than one occasion. I’m talking about those Friday nights when my brain is fried from a big week at work. Those nights when I don’t have anyone but me to get dinner for the kids and searching the fridge is fruitless because once again, I’ve failed to plan ahead.

That’s right, now that the new Nutri-Grain has a delicious combination of corn, oats and wheat and also a source of fibre and has less sodium and sugar than before, I don’t feel so bad. Not only that, you’ve saved my skin by being delicious and tricking my kids into thinking I’m a Cool Mum for letting them eat it for dinner sometimes. You’ve given me cred when I probably didn’t really deserve it. So thanks.

Thanks for allowing me some breathing space. Letting me be, not necessarily the perfect mum on paper, but still allow me to provide my kids with a healthy meal with very little effort. I owe you one.

Yours truly,

Bern.

Why do you love cereal?