9 Side Effects of Giving Up Cereal, According to Dietitians 9 Side Effects of Giving Up Cereal, According to Dietitians Americans love cereal. According to Statista, 283.39 million Americans consumed breakfast cereals in 2020. So it's no wonder there is an entire aisle dedicated to it in the supermarket. And for good reason. "In general, I think cereal can be a very affordable source of nutrition," says Amber Pankonin MS, RD, LMNT, registered dietitian and owner of The Stirlist. "There are several options that are lower in sugar and are a good source of calcium, iron, vitamin D, and fiber, which are important nutrients."