Cheerioats
From: General Mills
Introduced in 1941


Cheerioats were developed using the same process used to create Kix cereal a few years earlier. Vitamin-enriched dough was extruded into small shapes, dried and then shot through a puffing gun. Puffing is a pressurized, flash cooking process that had been used to make puffed rice and puffed wheat since 1904.

Unlike Kix which shot small, round pellets through the puffing gun, Cheerioats began as tiny, doughnut-shaped pieces of dough. The result was golden brown, round cereal pieces with holes in the middle.

In 1945, Quaker issued a trademark infringement complaint objecting to the term "oats" as a commercial name. General Mills changed the name to Cheerios.


A magazine ad in 1943, described Cheerioats like this:

"Now - Try the Oatmeal Cereal you don't have to cook! Corn and Rye added for flavor, crispness! No wonder Cheerioats is the new breakfast sensation in Hollywood - and all over America! Here at last is something really new in cereal - crisp, crunchy golden-brown nuggets of goodness that give even your teeth a thrill as you munch them.

"Yes, Cheerioats is as nourishing as it is delicious. It is 75% ground oatmeal, with corn and rye added for flavor and crispness. And here's the big news - Cheerioats is all ready to eat. Think of it! An oatmeal you don't have to cook."


Company Description: Officially created in 1928, General Mills traces it's history back to the 1860's and the ownership of two flour mills. Since then, the company has become the world's 6th largest food company - marketing to over 100 countries... Read on and see all cereals from General Mills


Additional Images
These are the most recent images. Click here to see all pictures for Cheerioats.

Cheeri O'Leary Cheerioats Box Backs
click to enlarge

Cheeri O'Leary Cheerioats Box Backs

Submitter: jeffrey
Uploaded: 12/10/2010

Additional details


Cheerioats Joe Ad
click to enlarge

Cheerioats Joe Ad

Submitter: jeffrey
Uploaded: 11/23/2010

Additional details


Cheerioats (Pre-Cheerios) Box
click to enlarge

Cheerioats (Pre-Cheerios) Box

Submitter: jeffrey
Uploaded: 11/23/2010

Additional details


Vintage Cheerioats Advertisement
click to enlarge

Vintage Cheerioats Advertisement

Submitter: jeffrey
Uploaded: 10/27/2010

Additional details


Early 1940s Cheerioats Ad
click to enlarge

Early 1940s Cheerioats Ad

Submitter: jeffrey
Uploaded: 10/16/2010

Additional details


Cheeri O'Leary Advertisement
click to enlarge

Cheeri O'Leary Advertisement

Submitter: jeffrey
Uploaded: 9/20/2010

Additional details


1943 Claudette Colbert Cheerioats Ad
click to enlarge

1943 Claudette Colbert Cheerioats Ad

Submitter: jeffrey
Uploaded: 9/20/2010

Additional details


Cheeri O'Leary The Cheerioats Girl
click to enlarge

Cheeri O'Leary The Cheerioats Girl

Submitter: jeffrey
Uploaded: 8/17/2010

Additional details



There's More Pictures! See all images for Cheerioats cereal




Comments About This Cereal
What do you think of Cheerioats?

Overall Average Rating = 5 (out of 5)

By Dotty

Cereal Rating (out of 5):

I am old enough to remember Cheerioats before they were Cheerios! Never lost my love for this cereal.

Comment submitted: 4/24/2016 (#20225)



By Bill

Cereal Rating (out of 5):

From a Cheeriots box: Fried Cheerioats: 1 cup of Cheerioats, 1 tblsp butter, stir until toasted, salt. Yum!

Comment submitted: 9/2/2014 (#17605)



By swagyolo4

Cereal Rating (out of 5):

Even though its from 1941, it still tastes fresh to me!

Comment submitted: 1/9/2014 (#15677)



By tinkletoes

I am loving these old pictures. Cheeriots Joe reminds me of Bazooka Joe.

Comment submitted: 10/27/2009 (#819)




Comment On Cheerioats Cereal:

Enter Your Review or Comments Here:



Rate This Cereal:

egg egg egg
Rotten Pretty Bad Okay Very Good Awesome
I Prefer Not To Rate This Cereal


Security Question:
Please type the name of the cereal below.

Please type the name of this cereal in the space to the right

Please enter the name of the cereal to the left:










Connect With Mr Breakfast   MrBreakfast at FaceBook   Mr Breakfast On Twitter   Mr Breakfast On Pinterest