Breakfast Cereals - how to cut the cost and keep the taste?

jamespir

ive tried lots of the value cereals and own brand and i found there really isnt that much taste difference except branflakes and they all tasted like cardboard

SarahShattered

My lot love Lidl's cereals.
We have 'Shreddies' erm... Malties I think they're called, Lidl's Weetabix... Bixies. Nougat Pillows as a treat! Oh and Lidl's Bran flakes, Golden puffs (sugar puffs)

And Sainsbury's own brand Mini Shredded Wheat, I like their blueberry shredded wheat.

I wouldn't buy Branded cereal unless they were on a really good offer.

shebrett

I found that Sainsbury's basics Cornflakes (£0.37 for 500g) and their Fruit & Fibre (£0.64p for 500g) are both really nice, hubby also liked and he was a brand junkie. Didn't like their version of weetabix but haven't tried their rice krispies as yet.

We also like shredded wheat and wait for the half price sales and then stock up.

The_Old_Bag

shebrett wrote: »

I found that Sainsbury's basics Cornflakes (£0.37 for 500g) and their Fruit & Fibre (£0.64p for 500g) are both really nice, hubby also liked and he was a brand junkie. Didn't like their version of weetabix but haven't tried their rice krispies as yet.

We also like shredded wheat and wait for the half price sales and then stock up.

DD always buys Sainsburys Basic Corn Flakes..... well since she went to uni and started buying her own:D

As many have commented, it is a case of trial and error.
Also, I find my tastes have changed anyway as I have 'matured'. I used to eat Asda fruit and nut muesli, but before they changed the packaging, I was already finding it too sweet !

I do love cereals which have fruit it, but cannot stand any 'frosted' cereals - much too sweet.
Only thing I ever add sugar to is porridge, and then it tends to be golden syrup..... one reason I am looking forward to Winter.;)

tunnel

I always go for the branded versions.I've got money off coupons for most cereals and if i haven't i'll check out the printables thread on here to see whats available.Then its a case of wait for an offer ie 2-4-1 or half price and then hit them with me coupons...I've had nestle shreddies for 25p a box,very rarely do i pay more than a pound.Its hit and miss,you never get the same cereals for more than a couple of weeks but then as the old saying goes "variety is the spice of life"

lew99

Think it really comes down to individual taste buds, so as someone else has already said you probably need to do a bit of trial and error on the cheaper brands.

For muesli, another option is to make you own. Remember growing up mum would bulk by ingredients and would then mix them and bake. The web should be full of various recipes for this.

Are they eating the cereals plain or adding fruit / yoghurt etc to them normally? If the kids are complaining about the taste of a cheaper own brand, then adding some fruit, either fresh or eg bulk buy some raisons - this may help. Or add a spoonful of honey or various other options.

Are there any stores in your area that have bulk buy options? Although not common, some of the health food stores do this.

MrsE_2

butler_helen wrote: »

same rules in our house. I buy special k - tescos version, bran flakes - tesco version and weetabix... you guessed it - tesco version! All taste EXACTLY the same... even better in the case of the bran flakes. I usually pay around £1 per 500g box of each of those cereals. I'm not sure on the more 'yummy' cereals though.

Edit; Tesco standard and not value versions.

I tried Waitrose own brand Bran Flakes & DH hated them.

Believe me if they were anywhere near Kellogues he would have loved it:)

no1catman

I always buy the biggest box e.g. 1 kg. ot 750 gm. cornflakes.
I also check the cost per 100 gms on the SEL, some I wouldn't consider because the price per 100 grm may be over 30p., that way to, it's easy to see how big the difference is between branded boxes and own-brand ones.

sillywilly

joedenise wrote: »

I buy store branded cereal and transfer them into plastic cereal containers - you can't what make they are then (as long as you get rid of the packets in the recycling bin!).

Denise

Just wondering what / where you got the plastic cereal containers from? Whenever I have tried this they seem to not be very airtight making the cereal go funny?

Hippeechiq

Bigsleep wrote: »

Agree,Tesco & Morrisons own brand Weetabix & Bran Flakes are very good.
Morrisons mini-shredded wheat are great too.
Its only Kelloggs cornflakes for me tho, I've tried all the own brand ones & they dont come anywhere near Kelloggs

Agree totally - will eat most brand cereals, but if I can't afford Kellogs Cornflakes, I'd rather go without.

Also agree about Te$cos Bran Flakes - absolutely scrummy. And OH likes A$da Fruit & Fibre. Their own sachets of instant Porridge (which only I eat) is delicious too, especially the Syrup flavour. I tried one of their own Muesli's as well (sorry, can't remember which one) and that was lovely too.

I have a £idl near me, might give their Cornflakes a go (as recommended by a previous poster) I can always make them into chocolate crunch cup cakes if we don't like them.

Plastic cereal containers are £1.97 from A$da, or were a couple of months back. Good for storing Spaghetti, Pasta & Rice too