Cheerios facts for kids
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A bowl of Cheerios cereal (Limited edition "With Happy Heart Shapes", c. 2022)
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| Owner | General Mills |
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| Introduced | May 1, 1941 |
| Tagline | Good Goes Around |
| Nutritional value per 1 cup (28 g) | |
|---|---|
| Energy | 100 kcal (420 kJ) |
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20
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| Sugars | 1 |
| Dietary fiber | 3 |
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2
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| Saturated | 0.5 |
| Trans | 0 |
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Protein
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3
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| Vitamins | Quantity
%DV†
|
| Vitamin A equiv. |
1%
10 μg |
| Vitamin C |
12%
10 mg |
| Minerals | Quantity
%DV†
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| Calcium |
1%
10 mg |
| Iron |
346%
45 mg |
| Potassium |
6%
180 mg |
| Sodium |
9%
140 mg |
| Other constituents | Quantity |
| Cholesterol | 0 |
| †Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults. | |
Cheerios is a popular brand of breakfast cereal made by the company General Mills. The cereal is made from ground-up oats and is famous for its small, ring shape.
In the United States and Canada, General Mills makes Cheerios. In other parts of the world, different companies sell it. For example, Nestlé sells Cheerios in Europe, and Uncle Tobys sells them in Australia and New Zealand.
The cereal was first created in the United States in 1941. Its original name was CheeriOats. However, another company, Quaker Oats Company, complained about the name because it used the word "oats." So, in 1945, General Mills changed the name to Cheerios.
Contents
History of Cheerios
Cheerios first appeared in stores on May 1, 1941, with the name "Cheerioats." The name was changed to "Cheerios" four years later.
The method for making Cheerios was based on a process used for another cereal called Kix. The process starts with oat flour, which is then shaped into the famous "O"s.
For 35 years, there was only one kind of Cheerios. Then, in 1976, Cinnamon Nut Cheerios was the first new flavor. Three years later, in 1979, Honey Nut Cheerios was introduced and became extremely popular.
Cheerios are also often one of the first solid foods given to babies. They are small and easy for babies around 9 to 12 months old to pick up, which helps them learn to feed themselves.
What's in Cheerios?
In 2014, General Mills announced it would stop using genetically modified ingredients, often called GMOs, in original Cheerios. However, they noted that tiny amounts might still be present because the oats could mix with other grains during shipping.
A year later, in 2015, the company made Cheerios gluten-free. They did this by removing small traces of wheat, rye, and barley that could get mixed in with the oats. This is important for people who get sick from eating gluten.
However, Cheerios sold in the United Kingdom are different. They are made with oats, wheat, and barley, so they are not gluten-free.
Advertising and Mascots
Over the years, Cheerios has used many fun characters and famous people in its TV commercials to appeal to kids and families.
Early Cartoon Characters
In the 1940s, a cartoon girl named Cheeri O'Leary appeared in magazine ads. She was often shown with famous actors of the time.
Later, a cartoon boy named Joe was featured in newspaper comics.
The Cheerios Kid
From the 1950s to the early 1960s, a popular mascot was The Cheerios Kid. In commercials, he would eat Cheerios and get "Go-power" to solve any problem. He even had a sidekick named Sue. The character was so popular that he was brought back for a short time in the 1980s and again in online videos in 2012.
Peanuts Characters
In the 1980s, characters from the famous comic strip Peanuts, like Snoopy and Charlie Brown, were in Cheerios commercials. The ads showed the characters getting energized after eating a healthy breakfast of Cheerios.
Shawn Johnson
In 2009, Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson became the first athlete to be on the front of a Cheerios box. This special box was sold in grocery stores in the Midwestern United States.
"Just Checking" Commercial
In 2013, a commercial called "Just Checking" featured a family with a white mother and a black father. The ad showed their young daughter asking about the heart-healthy benefits of Cheerios. In 2014, the same family appeared in a Super Bowl ad called "Gracie."
Cheerios Flavors
Over the decades, General Mills has released many different flavors of Cheerios. Some were available for a limited time, while others became permanent favorites.
- Cheerios (Original, first called Cheerioats) (1941)
- Honey Nut Cheerios (1979)
- Apple Cinnamon Cheerios (1988)
- Multi Grain Cheerios (1992)
- Frosted Cheerios (1995)
- Fruity Cheerios (2006)
- Chocolate Cheerios (2010)
- Pumpkin Spice Cheerios (Limited Edition) (2016)
- Strawberry Cheerios (Limited Edition) (2017)
- Very Berry Cheerios (2017)
- Peach Cheerios (Limited Edition) (2018)
- Maple Cheerios (2019)
- Blueberry Cheerios (2019)
- Cinnamon Cheerios (2020)
- Strawberry Banana Cheerios (2022)
- Frosted Lemon Cheerios (Limited Edition) (2023)
- Peach Mango Cheerios (Limited Edition) (2024)
- Cheerios Oat Crunch (comes in flavors like cinnamon, honey, and berry)
Health Claims on the Box
In 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent a letter to General Mills. The FDA was concerned about claims on the Cheerios box, such as "You can Lower Your Cholesterol 4% in 6 weeks."
The FDA said these claims made Cheerios sound like a medicine, which would require special approval. General Mills responded that its health claims were based on scientific studies and had been on the box for years.
By 2012, the issue was resolved. The FDA approved the wording on the Cheerios box, and no further action was needed.
See also
- Cheerios effect
- Cruncheroos
