Lemondrop

I wasn't allowed to have sugary cereal as a kid, so I therefore stick to a trifecta of yellow-box Cheerios (never Honey Nut; that stuff's gross), Special K and Product 19 (yes it's a real cereal). Yes, I realize I have the same cereal preferences as an old man, but after years of conditioning, the combo of milk and sugar grosses me out.

But recently, I found a new cereal that's sweet and delicious (and healthy, too) that doesn't scream, "I share the same eating habits as a senior citizen!" It's called Me and Goji (www.meandgoji.com) and it's my new obsession. (Seriously, I knocked back the entire carton in a few sittings.) It's an online cereal company where you mix and match healthy ingredients, creating your own custom breakfast blend, and I'm totally taken by the ability to play master chef with my breakfast.

My first blend was a kitchen-sink mix of sorts (see picture). I grew up a meat-and-potatoes kind of girl and haven't had much experience with things like raw five-grain muesli or chia seeds. I figured the only way to determine what I like is to try it all. I started with the Healthy Hops base (hey, they look like Cheerios) and added anything that sounded remotely tasty. With every nut, seed and dried fruit addition, the nutrition panel automatically updated with the latest info. The final cost of the cereal depends on its ingredients (bases are $5 to $7, and add-ins are anywhere from 25 cents to $2), plus shipping.

All in all, I was really happy with my mix, except for one thing: the quinoa flakes. I added them because I have a few health-nut friends are really into them. I should have known better than to trust someone who eats healthy all the time. The pasty white flakes made for a messy experience while munching by the handful straight from the box; and while eating my cereal with milk, the flakes got all clumpy and gross. Other than that, the mix of pistachios, dried cranberries and goji berries and other cereal-y stuff was so good I couldn't keep my hand out of the container.