“Cereal was a staple of my childhood. Every morning before school, I’d savor a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch—quick, familiar, and comforting. After we moved to India, my parents would bring back boxes from the U.S., sometimes dedicating an entire suitcase just to them. That suitcase became more than just food; it was their way of saying they remembered what I loved.

Eventually, I discovered Froot Loops and Frosted Flakes. They earned spots on my favorites list, but nothing ever beat Cinnamon Toast.

As I got older, though, the tone around cereal changed. My parents started saying it wasn’t healthy—too sugary, not nutritious enough. When I moved back to the U.S. for college and gained weight, those voices got louder. Now they came from diet culture, social media, and my peers. Like many young women, I had learned to feel guilty about foods that once made me happy.

But over time, I’ve been unlearning that guilt. Eating well doesn’t have to mean avoiding joy. Now, I don’t eat cereal every day—but when I do, it’s not a slip-up or a guilty pleasure. It’s just a nostalgic breakfast. And every time I make myself a bowl, with that first bite of cinnamon and cold milk, I feel just a little closer to the kid I used to be.”