{"id":5419,"date":"2026-07-13T23:12:24","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T18:12:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=5419"},"modified":"2026-07-13T23:12:24","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T18:12:24","slug":"cream-of-wheat-is-going-viral-as-grocery-prices-stay-high","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=5419","title":{"rendered":"Cream of Wheat is going viral as grocery prices stay high"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article\">\n<p>One of the internet&#8217;s biggest food trends right now comes from a box that&#8217;s been around for generations and costs less than a cup of coffee in New York City.<\/p>\n<p>Cream of Wheat is suddenly all over <a href=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/category\/tiktok\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\">TikTok<\/a>, where users are posting recipes, taste tests, <a href=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/video\/viral-ai-video-you-are-what-you-eat\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\">mukbangs<\/a> (eating a large amount of food on camera), and carefully customized bowls of the hot cereal. Among the trend\u2019s most visible creators is Rachel, who posts under <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@vintagegingerrr\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">@vintagegingerrr<\/a> and has built a following of more than 112,000 with comfort-focused <a href=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/category\/kitchen\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\">food content<\/a> that frequently features Cream of Wheat.<\/p>\n<div class=\"flex mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-3xl font-sans text-lg leading-normal md:text-xl md:leading-7\">\n        <span class=\"font-bold text-primary-400\">SEE ALSO:<\/span><br \/>\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/life\/glp-1-eating-disorder-recovery-social-media\" class=\"flex items-center text-secondary-300\"><br \/>\n            <span class=\"ml-1\">GLP-1s are inescapable online. Here&#8217;s why that&#8217;s a problem.<\/span><br \/>\n            <svg class=\"ml-1 w-4 h-4 font-normal fill-current\"><use href=\"http:\/\/mashable.com\/images\/icons\/spritemap.svg#sprite-arrow-right-thin\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n        <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<p>She is far from the only creator giving the old-school breakfast new attention. User <a href=\"https:\/\/tiktok.com\/t\/ZP8GGfBrT\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">Queen of Wheat<\/a> has been posting viral Cream of Wheat mukbangs since 2025, while other users have joined in with their own versions, debates over the best consistency, and first-time reactions to a cereal many had previously overlooked. <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitterEmbed twitter-tweet\"><p>\n    <a class=\"text-gray-600\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SammmiWham95025\/status\/2076334666743697915\" title=\"(Opens in a new tab) (opens in a new window)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n        This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.<br \/>\n    <\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>For the uninitiated, Cream of Wheat is a brand of farina, a finely ground wheat cereal that is cooked with water or milk into a smooth porridge. The original version cooks on the stove in about 2.5 minutes and can be topped with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, fruit, nuts, or whatever else is already in the kitchen. <\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s also cheap. As of July 13, Walmart listed a<a href=\"https:\/\/www.walmart.com\/ip\/Cream-of-Wheat-Original-Flavor-Instant-Hot-Cereal-Kosher-12-1-oz-Packets\/10294606?classType=VARIANT&amp;athbdg=L1600\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\"> 28-ounce box for $4.82<\/a>. The brand says a box that size contains about 24 servings, putting the dry cereal at roughly 20 cents per bowl before adding milk or toppings. <\/p>\n<p>That price is particularly relevant as Americans continue to feel squeezed at the <a href=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/article\/how-to-find-cheaper-groceries\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\">grocery store<\/a>. Food prices increased <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ers.usda.gov\/data-products\/food-price-outlook\/summary-findings\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">2.3 percent in 2024<\/a> and 2.9 percent in 2025, and are expected to rise 3.2 percent this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. <\/p>\n<section x-data=\"window.newsletter({ isDeal: false })\" x-init=\"init()\" aria-label=\"Newsletter Sign-Up\" class=\"relative invisible my-12 mx-auto w-full max-w-3xl md:my-16 ziff-component accent-cut-for-gradient-bg accent-cut-border-for-gradient-bg bg-gradient-fuchsia-secondary p-[2px]\">\n<p>\n            <span class=\"text-gradient-fuchsia-secondary\">Mashable Trend Report<\/span>\n        <\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p>Consumer surveys reflect this pressure. In a <a href=\"https:\/\/static1.squarespace.com\/static\/6a0bb9dd86fb97615353fada\/t\/6a3d3d8d9afeb32158aa761b\/1782398349644\/KTP%2B-%2BNational%2BSurvey..pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">May 2026 poll<\/a> by Global Strategy Group, 63 percent of people named groceries and food as one of their biggest sources of financial strain, and 67 percent said they were paying unfair prices for groceries. <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitterEmbed twitter-tweet\"><p>\n    <a class=\"text-gray-600\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/xylauraz\/status\/2076438732786331957\" title=\"(Opens in a new tab) (opens in a new window)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n        This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.<br \/>\n    <\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The trend is part of a wider return to inexpensive pantry foods that can be stored for long periods and stretched across multiple meals.<\/p>\n<p>Spam, which sells for just over $4 per can at most major retailers, has posted its <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/03\/21\/us-news\/spam-makes-a-come-back-as-pinched-shoppers-embrace-the-cheap-canned-meat\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">highest sales<\/a> in nine of the past ten years. Meanwhile, TikTok creators have shared recipes for Spam sandwiches, fried rice, eggs, and other meals that go far beyond simply opening the can.<\/p>\n<p>Hamburger Helper has seen a similar comeback. Eagle Foods, the company behind the boxed meal, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/09\/20\/business\/hamburger-helper-food-prices.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">reported<\/a> that year-over-year sales jumped 14.5 percent in Aug. 2025 as shoppers searched for affordable ways to stretch their ground beef. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.expertmarketresearch.com\/reports\/dried-beans-market\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">Beans<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.credenceresearch.com\/report\/canned-pasta-market\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">canned pasta<\/a>, and other shelf-stable staples have also gained renewed attention as consumers look for groceries that won&#8217;t break the bank or spoil quickly.<\/p>\n<p>Cream of Wheat isn&#8217;t the first overlooked grocery item that TikTok has transformed into a must-buy ingredient. <a href=\"https:\/\/tiktok.com\/t\/ZP8GGGdVB\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">Cottage cheese,<\/a> once relegated to old-fashioned diet plates, has become the base for viral high-protein pasta sauces, smoothies, and ice cream. U.S. cottage cheese sales jumped <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/06\/20\/business\/cottage-cheese-shortage.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">82 percent<\/a> between 2022 and 2025, prompting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westbycreamery.com\/westby-cooperative-creamery-announces-14-million-expansion-to-modernize-cottage-cheese-production\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">producers to announce expansions<\/a> to meet surging demand. Sardines have gotten a similar makeover through carefully arranged <a href=\"https:\/\/tiktok.com\/t\/ZP8GGGUNa\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">snack plates<\/a> and claims that their omega-3 fatty acids can give you healthier-looking skin.<\/p>\n<p>Most social media reactions to Cream of Wheat center on comfort, ease, and familiarity. One viewer said Rachel\u2019s videos brought back childhood memories, while others described the cereal as nostalgic or mentioned they\u2019d forgotten about it until it popped up on their feeds. <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitterEmbed twitter-tweet\"><p>\n    <a class=\"text-gray-600\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/tobacchoe\/status\/2076006384097706055\" title=\"(Opens in a new tab) (opens in a new window)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n        This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.<br \/>\n    <\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>At a time when even many forms of self-care come with their own price tags, a warm bowl made at home is one of the cheaper options available. I guess I know what I&#8217;m having for breakfast tomorrow. <\/p>\n<section class=\"mx-auto max-w-7xl\">\n<\/section><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the internet&#8217;s biggest food trends right now comes from a box that&#8217;s been around for generations and costs less than a cup of coffee in New York City. Cream of Wheat is suddenly all over TikTok, where users are posting recipes, taste tests, mukbangs (eating a large amount of food on camera), and&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5420,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/helios-i.mashable.com\/imagery\/articles\/07yvEHPtZb6gC0LGzgRIA6A\/hero-image.fill.size_1200x675.v1783960136.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-trending-viral-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5419","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5419"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5419\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5420"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}