  breakfast cereal (or just cereal) is a food made from processed grains that is often eaten as the first meal of the day. it is eaten hot or cold, usually mixed with milk and sometimes yogurt or fruit. some companies promote their products for the health benefits from eating oat-based and high-fiber cereals. in america, cereals are often fortified with vitamins. a significant proportion of cold cereals are made with high sugar content. many breakfast cereals are produced via extrusion. the breakfast cereal industry has gross profit margins of 40-45%,  90% penetration in some markets,  and steady and continued growth throughout its history."breakfast cereals: a report on the supply of ready cooked breakfast cereal foods", the monopolies c omission, 20 february 1973  in 2008, the total breakfast cereal sales were slightly over $13.3 billion in the u.s. alone.  ==history of cereal in north america== porridge was a traditional food in much of northern europe and russia back to antiquity. barley was a common grain used, though other grains and yellow peas could be used. in many modern cultures, porridge is still eaten as a breakfast dish. ===early america=== north american natives had found a way to make ground corn palatable, calling it "grits," (from the old english word "grytt," meaning coarse meal), and "hominy." while this became a staple in the southern u.s., grits never gained a hold in the northern states. food reformers in the 19th century called for cutting back on excessive meat consumption at breakfa
American_inventions Breakfast_cereals