bowled over
ALL CEREAL KILLER, NO FILLER.
Whether it’s as your morning fuel or a lazy brekkie-for-dinner type affair, the humble cereal is a
pantry staple for many of us. However, with the average supermarket offering packed with confusing
ingredients (and often around one-third sugar), we decided it was high time to sort the wheat(bix) from
the chaff, and took a deep-dive into bowlfuls of the most interesting options around.
wordsHELEN DEWAR illustration ALARNA ZINN
BLUE FROG
CRUNCHY PEANUT BUTTER
GRAIN-FREE CEREAL
I’m of the firm belief that peanut butter any-
thing is a Very Good Thing, and when the all-
natural peanut butter in question comes from
cult New Zealand brand Fix & Fogg, you know
you’re in for a treat. This refined-sugar–free
cereal also has no grains, gluten, preservatives
or dairy – instead it’s a vegan-friendly treat
packed full of hi-oleic (aka good fat) peanuts,
freeze-dried raspberries, cacao, organic coco-
nut and that very special peanut butter. Colour
me impressed, Blue Frog – it’s love!
bluefrogbreakfast.co.nz
BOTANIKA BLENDS
GRANDMA’S APPLE PIE
INSTANT PROBIOTIC
PROTEIN PORRIDGE
If, like me, you stumble into the kitchen barely
able to see and certainly unable to handle
more than the most simple basic functions
in the morning (some days just getting water
from tap to glass can be a challenge), then
this instant porridge is the one for you. With
an unusual yet strangely comforting apple pie
flavour (who knew pie could be so delicious
before the sun rose?), it has no refined sugar
and is a veritable carnival of organic rolled
oats, apple powder, chia seeds, plant protein,
probiotics, digestive enzymes and minerals.
Truly the easiest way to get nutrients into
your body before you’re actually fully awake,
this porridge is a triumph for my fellow sloths
everywhere.
botanikablends.com.au
THE MONDAY FOOD CO.
PECAN, VANILLA & INCA
BERRIES PALEO GRANOLA
The super-simple, all-natural ingredients in
this one read like a line-up of delicious things
I’m always happy to see in the morning – hello
almonds, pecans, coconut, Inca berries,
vanilla pods and cinnamon, to name but six
of the main players. Sweetened by honey,
this antioxidant-rich cereal is nutrient packed
and a taste sensation that won’t just chase
the Monday blues away – it’s so delicious I
recommend it becomes a daily indulgence.
themondayfoodco.comTHE WHOLEFOOD
ARTISAN
SUNSHINE START GOLDEN
GOJI MUESLI
I’m not saying I’m grumpy in the morning,
per se, but I’m physically incapable of
speaking until I’ve had coffee and I definitely
wouldn’t associate myself with the word
‘sunshine’ when I’ve just woken up. Happily,
though, this muesli achieved what I cannot
and made brekkie a delightful time of day.
Combining seeds, almonds, coconut chips,
puffed corn and brown rice, along with
those lovely goji berries, the sweetness in
this one comes from Australian bush honey
and apple juice, which is nice as it certainly
wouldn’t be coming from me pre-9am. A
winner of a muesli that can be eaten in a
cheery, sunshiney silence until caffeine has
been imbibed – what more could one ask.
thewholefoodartisan.com.auLOVING EARTH
RAW ORGANIC ACTIVATED
BUCKINIS – NUT & SEED
CEREAL
As I’m generally more of a savoury brekkie
kinda gal, I enjoyed that this cereal has no fruit
involved – instead it’s choc-full of coconut
chips, activated sunflower seeds, cashews,
brazil nuts, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds and
chia seeds, as well as Loving Earth’s signature
buckinis – activated buckwheat that’s protein
and mineral rich (and is actually a seed, not
a wheat, fact fans). Not one for the sweet
tooths, this cereal is a nutrient-dense way to
start your day with the kind of smug glow that
comes from having a very healthy breakfast.
lovingearth.netTHE SOURCE BULK FOODS
BUSHFOOD MUESLI
If you like to buy your cereals in bulk and plas-
tic free, head straight to The Source for your
brekkie fix. Their delightful Bush Food Muesli
combines Aussie flavours – g’day, lemon myr-
tle and cinnamon myrtle (totally didn’t know
there was another myrtle! You learn some-
thing new every day!) – with oats and seeds,
goji berries and dried apricots. Preservative
free and with no added sugar, the muesli can
be served hot or cold and makes a great base
for all your delicious baking – but my fave fact
is that five percent of sales of the Bush Tucker
range goes to outback community projects. A
very good morning indeed!
thesourcebulkfoods.com.auMINT METER