six creative uses for cereal

Your cereal that's made with whole grain shouldn't be confined to a bowl. When you unleash a little culinary creativity, you can put zing into old standby recipes and find some new, healthier family favorites. "After milk and soft drinks, the most-purchased food is cereal," says Lauren Chattman, author of The Cereal Lover's Cookbook: Fun, Easy Recipes for Every Occasion, Made with Your Favorite Ready-to-Eat Cereals. "When you incorporate it in recipes, you can add flavor and texture, along with nutrients." Slipping cereals made with whole grain into surprising places can help you stick to the new MyPyramid Food Guidance System (www.mypyramid.gov) guidelines, which recommend that half of your grains come from whole grain sources. "Whole grains are higher in vitamins and minerals, and often higher in fiber and antioxidants than other grains," says Lola O'Rourke, a Seattle-based registered dietitian and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "When you find ways to add more whole grain to your diet, you'll help ward off heart disease and you might even feel fuller on fewer calories." Here are six ways to think beyond the bowl.

Mighty Mixes Single-serving snack. Combine a cup of cereal, about 1 ounce (or a small handful) of your favorite kinds of nuts, and 1/4 cup of dried fruit, says O'Rourke. Mix by hand and put it in a bowl for a handy, anytime snack. Jazz it up with 1/2 cup of pretzels or popcorn.

Exotic treats. Cereals made with whole grain can be the base for tastebud-tickling, nontraditional snacks. For example, Chattman suggests mixing exotic tastes such as coconut, curry, cayenne, and golden raisins with Chex cereals.

Instant Recipe Boosters Better breading. Forget fried chicken. Instead, coat that bird with cereal flakes made with whole grain. Put the flakes in a plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin before using as a coating. One of Chattman's favorite things to top with cereal: salmon. When broiled salmon fillets are almost done, brush them with Dijon mustard, then spread the crushed cereal on top. Put back into the oven for 30 seconds, watching carefully to be sure they don't burn.

Muffins. "Sometimes whole wheat flour can make muffins seem dense," Chattman says. "Instead, swap 3 cups of whole wheat flakes for every 1 cup of flour to make the muffins lighter." Stir the flakes into the batter and add 1/4 cup of dried fruit or nuts.

Do-It-Yourself Desserts Pudding. Grab a handful of cereal made with whole grain, then crunch it and place on top of pudding; you're adding another appetite-satisfying texture to what can be a mundane food, says Chattman.

Yogurt parfait. Start with low-fat or nonfat yogurt in the bottom of a glass. Layer in berries, then a layer of cereal made with whole grain, then another layer of berries, and cereal on top. This one can be a fun kitchen activity—and smart eating lesson—for kids or grandkids, says O'Rourke. "When they help make something healthy, you're helping to establish good habits."