You'll never guess which old-turned-new favorite topped the list.
It's been a big (read: sugary, sparkly, and Instagrammable) year in the world of cereal. Kellogg’s brought Unicorn Froot Loops to the U.S. after the “magic cupcake” flavored morsels received high praise in the U.K. Post came out with breakfast versions of two classic Nabisco cookies, Chips Ahoy! Cereal and Nutter Butter Cereal. And General Mills decided to bring back old school Trix after a year of backlash from fans. So, on this National Cereal Day – when there are more choices in the breakfast food aisle than ever before – we decided to take a look at the brands and flavors Americans like best, and we turned to Google Trends for the job.
According to Google searches in the last 12 months, Americans have been, ahem, all over the map when it comes to their cereal of choice. The most popular brands by state include some obvious choices, like Kix, as well as some head-turners. (Arkansas, we're looking at you.) There are the throwbacks — Count Chocula — and also the timeless classics, like Life. Perhaps the most surprising part of the data, though, is the cereals that aren’t listed. Like Frosted Flakes (come on America, they’re gr-r-reat!), Cheerios and Rice Krispies.
Oreo O’s, which recently returned to grocery stores after a 10-year hiatus, topped the popularity list with 14 states: Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The bottom of the lineup, made up of cereals that are heavily searched only in one state, includes classics like Captain Crunch and Raisin Bran.
Here is the full list:
Alabama: Honeycomb
Alaska: Oreo O's
Arizona: Oreo O's
Arkansas: King Vitamin
California: Life
Colorado: Life
Connecticut: Life
Delaware: Trix
Washington DC: Life
Florida: Oreo O's
Georgia: Trix
Hawaii: Oreo O's
Idaho: Captain Crunch
Illinois: Oreo O's
Indiana: Oreo O's
Iowa: Kix
Kansas: Life
Kentucky: Trix
Louisiana: King Vitamin
Maine: Special K
Maryland: Honeycomb
Massachusetts: Special K
Michigan: Oreo O's
Minnesota: Life
Mississippi: Special K
Missouri: Life
Montana: Count Chocula
Nebraska: Life
Nevada: Oreo O's
New Hampshire: Kix
New Jersey: Oreo O's
New Mexico: Special K
New York: Oreo O's
North Carolina: Oreo O's
North Dakota: Kashi
Ohio: Oreo O's
Oklahoma: Trix
Oregon: Life
Pennsylvania: Oreo O's
Rhode Island: Honeycomb
South Carolina: Pops
South Dakota: Raisin Bran
Tennessee: Honeycomb
Texas: Oreo O's
Utah: Life
Vermont: Kix
Virginia: Trix
Washington: Life
West Virginia: Honeycomb
Wisconsin: Trix
Wyoming: All Bran
Looking for a fun way to celebrate National Cereal Day? Check out these recipes for transforming cereal into dessert. Plus, tell us about your favorite cereal by tagging us on social media at @foodandwine.
