5 Great Breakfast Finds I Started Buying This Year (They’re All Less than $5!)

published Apr 26, 2022
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Credit: Joe Lingeman

I’m always on the hunt for new and new-to-me groceries, and this year has taken my search to the next level. Whether it’s due to the rise in prices or certain staples being out of stock where I shop, I’ve had to alter my purchasing habits a bit more than usual. On the bright side, it’s allowed me to try more items — including ones I typically would have passed over. There have been hits and misses, but I’m here to talk about the hits!

These are the five new-to-me breakfast finds I started buying in 2022. They’re all perfectly delicious in the morning and they’re all less than $5 each!

Credit: Heather McClees

1. Pocono Cream of Buckwheat Organic Cereal, $4.89 for 13 ounces

It’s no secret that oatmeal is a mainstay in my breakfast routine, but even I like to branch out once in a while. Ready in just three minutes, this cream of buckwheat comes out nice and smooth and the texture reminds me of grits I grew up on. Despite the name, buckwheat is gluten-free. It’s also one of my new favorite sources of amino acids, minerals, and fiber.

Credit: Heather McClees

2. Lifeway Kefir Plain Unsweetened Cultured Lowfat Milk, $3.99 for 32 ounces

Kefir is a cultured milk that’s high in probiotics. (It looks like a pourable yogurt and it has more probiotics and more beneficial strains than yogurt.) This brand has 12 different probiotic cultures; is full of protein, potassium, calcium, and vitamin D; and is by far the best one I’ve ever had. I love that it’s plain and has no added sugar. It tastes fantastic in smoothies with some frozen fruit (try strawberries!) or in place of milk in cereal. 

Credit: Heather McClees

3. Folgers Coffeehouse Blend Medium Roast Coffee, $4.69 for 10.8 ounces

Like a lot of people, I’ve seriously changed up my coffee routine. For me, that’s meant nixing the ready-made, bottled cold brews for a more budget-friendly option. I started buying the ground stuff and making my own! My mom has enjoyed Folgers coffee for almost her entire life, so I recently decided to try their Coffeehouse blend. This is a medium-dark roast ground coffee, and I have to say, I’m a fan. It’s half the price of the coffee I was buying and has an incredibly deep, full-bodied flavor that (bonus!) doesn’t mess with my sensitive stomach.

Credit: Heather McClees

4. Bigelow Lemon Ginger Herbal Tea, $3.50 for 1.31 ounces 

This Bigelow tea is the one I find myself reaching for most mornings. The lemon ginger flavor is delightful and the tea contains a shelf- and heat-stable form of probiotics known as Bacillus coagulans (I’m a nutritionist, and gut health is important to me), which you also see in some other shelf-stable products like protein powder, cereal, and more. I like to drink this tea warm or iced with a wedge of lemon. It’s also available in bulk for $16, if you’re interested in stocking up. 

Credit: Heather McClees

5. Bob’s Red Mill 5 Grain Hot Cereal, $4.79 for 34 ounces

This blend has a rich, nutty flavor; is a great source of fiber, B vitamins, protein, and minerals; and makes phenomenal overnight oats with strawberries and kefir (mentioned above). Made with whole-grain wheat, rye, barley, triticale (a hybrid grain of rye and wheat), ground flaxseed, and whole-grain oats, it’s a filling, delicious, and wholesome meal I’ve yet to tire of. If you prefer a warm version, it also tastes great combined with rolled oats (I like using a quarter cup of each) topped with blueberries and extra flaxseed.

Do you have a new, budget-friendly grocery you want to share with the group? Let us know in the comments below.