No one can deny it — cereal just gives us the feels. It’s so crunchy and sweet, a straight up party in your mouth. Whether it’s 2 am and you’ve just stumbled home after a monumental bar crawl, or the alarm clock somehow didn’t tell you class started five minutes ago, cereal will forever be the OG of college go-to meals. We’ve officially ranked the best of the best, so go ahead and grab a spoon.
10. Raisin Bran
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Bran sounds healthy, but sugar-coated raisins leave this cereal at the bottom of the bowl. This box of heaven carries 230 calories per serving. On the upside, it does have high amounts of fiber, which can aid in digestion. It taste too good not to have, but maybe save it for special occasions — you know, like Tuesdays.
9. Frosted Mini Wheats
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Muhammad Ali, Bruce (now Caitlin) Jenner, Misty May-Treanor and so many other great athletes have graced the boxes of Wheaties for the last several decades. Turns out, frosted wheaties don’t quite measure up to their famous spokespersons. Packing in over 200 calories per serving, you may want to think twice before pouring that third bowl. However, their fiber content is one that’s hard to beat, so maybe limit yourself to just two-and-a-half bowls.
8. Cinnamon Toast Crunch
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If you didn’t beg, cry and stomp your way through the grocery isles as a kid, urging your parents to buy this, then we probably can’t be friends. These tasty squares are not only delicious, but they make for the best milk to drink afterwards. Being the first on our list to come in under 200 calories per serving, it’s safe to say you can have two bowls.
7. Honey Bunches of Oats
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When I was younger and someone asked me, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” I definitely responded with, “a worker at the Honey Bunches of Oats factory.” Didn’t their commercials just make you want a bowl so bad? With sources of healthy fats like monounsaturated and polyunsaturated and an array of flavors, this cereal is definitely worth its cost. Bonus, the workers always seem so happy and content, it’s like the cereal solves the world’s problems — hence spot #7.
6. Reese’s Puffs
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As if their peanut butter cups couldn’t get any better. There may not be a better combination than peanut butter and chocolate, so it’s no surprise that General Mills made a cereal using the flavors — and thank goodness they did. Though they may taste sweet, these bad boys don’t mess around. Containing healthy fats and dietary fiber, this under 175 calorie meal is a great way to satisfy a sweet tooth.
5. Cinnamon Life
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Life is like a box of Life (that’s how it goes, right?) and while some may argue that the original flavor is better—they’re wrong. Surprisingly, this sweet cinnamon goodness is only 160 calories per serving, so have seconds and drink the milk, too.
4. Lucky Charms
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There are few things more infuriating than going to pour some Lucky Charms and ironically finding yourself sh*t out of luck because someone picked out all the charms. With possibilities of eating rainbows, shooting stars and red balloons, it’s no wonder this cereal made the list. At 150 calories per serving, accompanied by many micronutrients, you’re definitely getting lucky tonight.
3. Honey Graham Oh’s
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They may rip your mouth to shreds, but these honey crunch packed oh’s are the best circles in the business. This may not have been a childhood favorite, but it will definitely please your young adult palette. Move over Cheerios: at 150 calories per serving, Oh’s come in at the #3 spot.
2. Fruity Pebbles
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With arguably the most entertaining games on the back of their box, Fruity Pebbles claims spot #2. Lower in sugar and fat than some of the formerly mentioned cereals, call up Fred and see if he can give you a ride to the store ASAP. If fruity isn’t your thing, then you should definitely try the chocolate version — it’s ridiculous.
1. Frosted Flakes
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If Tony the Tiger didn’t already convince you, let Frosted Flakes’ #1 position give you a hint. With just the right amount of sweetness, these flaky bites of heaven are definitely the best of the best. You can even have seconds, or thirds, because while scoring high on this list, they come in low with only 150 calories per serving, no fat and no cholesterol.