Ways to Eat Cereal Without Milk

"A cereal without milk is like a day without sunshine," the saying goes, or something like that. Who eats cereal without milk? A lot of people, that's who! Millennials who would rather grab a little box of dry cereal and avoid the washing up of bowls and spoons, according to The Washington Post. People who are lactose-intolerant but want a morning crunch to start the day, parents who discover a refrigerator empty of the milk carton, and creatives who like to "mix it up" and avoid the routine of cereal with milk are just some who prefer to eat cereal without milk.

Yuck, you may think, but many cereal manufacturers suggest preparing their cereal with water. Oatmeal is one example and the instructions on the package even suggest the addition of water. While the taste and texture may suffer a bit, the addition of water to the mix is a healthier option, especially when you crave the oatmeal but can't tolerate the dairy. You may have to add a bit of glamor by topping it with honey, berries, chocolate chips, a banana or anything to contribute taste to the cereal bowl, but they are great alternatives to just oatmeal and water.

Eating cold cereal with just water might not be very palatable: the cereal will soften faster and the taste will lack the richness milk provides. But very fruity cold cereals might actually benefit from adding only water; it's really a matter of preference.

You open the refrigerator door and suddenly realize you're out of milk – that's when your creative juices kick in and the children lined up at the counter just waiting for their breakfast have to learn that improvising is a talent, not a punishment. Grab some granola from the pantry, top it with yogurt and make a parfait. Garnish it with a cookie and some sprinkles to distract the kids from the unusual contents of the bowl and after the ughs and grunts, the spoons dive in and happy faces prevail.

Blending yogurt with fruit to make a smoothie is another way to eat cereal without milk. Agro Foodious suggests crunching up the dry cereal for a topping, and your cereal smoothie is ready to serve.

If you're the type of person who likes to plan ahead, try making cereal bars out of leftover cereal. Nestle recommends making shredded wheat breakfast bars chock full of apricots and raisins and flavored with orange juice. Served with fruit that is eaten by hand, such as blueberries or raspberries, you'll have a nutritious breakfast or after-school snack and it's dairy free and cleanup free.

Baking cupcakes that incorporate cereal is a great way to get cereal in and complaints out. Just flake Cheerios or any decorative cereal over the frosting to add crunch and the family can enjoy a cereal-cupcake breakfast or snack.

Eating cereal for dinner or late at night is a trend that's been current for years. You may be too full from lunch to eat a dinner meal, or a craving kicks in for a specific cereal. But that refrigerator devoid of milk is standing in your way. Instead of hopping in a car and driving to the market, simply choose one of the alternatives above and you can eat your version of cereal with contentment.