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Rating the Halloween Cereals at Publix

Author Geno
Which one did you like as a kid?

Those Halloween cereals from your childhood are back on the shelves at Publix this week. I thought it was only Target that sold the Halloween cereals. But Publix had them right in the entry way this morning and it brought me back to the 1980s. Remember those TV ads during the Saturday morning cartoons for Count Chocula, Franken Berry and Boo Berry?

Check out this classic TV ad from back when “Count Chocula” was new!

Well they have more haunted friends now. Have you met Carmela Creeper? I like anything with caramel and apple so this sounds like a winner. As a grown adult with no little ones in the house, I couldn’t bring myself to carry one of these to the register… but I thought about it.

The Halloween Cereals of 2024

Count Chocula cereal box
Geno / Q105
Being a chocoholic, this was my favorite of the big 3 Halloween cereals. But as I look at this picture, I am now curious about what I see below it… Junior Mints cereal!? Oh I would’ve been all over that as a kid.
Franken Berry cereal box
Geno / Q105
The fact that these are BOGOs right now at Publix makes me feel better. I’m a Count Chocula guy, but Franken Berry would come in a close second. As an adult, I can’t help but be distracted by Franken Berry’s head. He looks like a… sorry, butt head. Now you can’t unsee it either can you?
Boo Berry cereal box
Geno / Q105
I like blueberries. I used to pick them with my mom where I grew up in Maine. My fingers would be blue for weeks. But I never was a big Boo Berry guy.
Carmela Creeper cereal box
Geno / Q105
This one’s new to me. I don’t think we had this back in the 80s. But I love apple so this could be good.
Monsters' Frightful Friends cereal box
Geno / Q105
Oh now this isn’t fair. You kids of 2024 don’t have to pick between Count Chocula, Frankenberry or Boo Berry? You can get all 3 in one box. It’s just not fair. This should’ve always been a thing.
Reese's Puffs Bats cereal box
Geno / Q105
Reese’s rules Halloween. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are at the absolute top of the Halloween candy food chain. So I’m down for anything Reese’s. And these look cool.
Lucky Charms cereal box
Geno / Q105
Ooh the Lucky Charms guy with a dark, demented look! I like it! Lucky Charms were a big favorite as a kid. A few years ago, I found the best thing ever on Amazon… someone was selling nothing but an enormous bag of the Lucky Charms marshmallows… without the cereal. They truly got me. Those marshmallows tasted like styrofoam, but I still loved ’em.
Trix cereal box
Geno / Q105
As a kid the thought of mystery color milk would have probably sounded pretty awesome. As an adult, I think I threw up in my mouth a little bit when I read this. Mystery color milk might make this the scariest of the Halloween cereals of 2024.

Hear Geno on the air weekday afternoons. Geno's passions include fat guy food, concerts, sports, travel to Europe and South America. He loves 80s and 90s music, from MTV hairbands to old school freestyle, alternative rock to TRL era jams. Geno's radio career began in his hometown of Portland, Maine. Since then he's been on the air coast to coast from Boston to Las Vegas, Tampa to California.

9 Worst Trick or Treat Handouts for Halloween

  • Key Chains

    Keychains are handy, but they’re not exactly the kind of treasure kids hope to find in their candy haul. They want stuff that’s sweet, not stuff for keys they don’t have. Save yourself some money and pass on key chains.

    Leather keychain, holder trinket for key with metal ring. Vector realistic template of black fob for home, car or office isolated on white background. Blank accessory for corporate identity

    klyaksun/ Getty Images

  • Hygiene Products

    We all know cleanliness is important, but getting soap, shampoo, or hand sanitizer in your treat bag on Halloween is not what kids look forward to. It’s a treat, not a trip to the pharmacy. It’s like getting socks for Christmas. While practical, it’s not exactly exciting.

    bottles of amenity set besides bathtub in bathroom

    onsuda/ Getty Images

  • Loose Change

    Coins may have been an acceptable treat decades ago, but nowadays, they’re seen as disappointing. Kids prefer candy. Or maybe small toys (if they’re exciting/cool enough). Unless, you’re giving away the big bucks, steer clear of this one.

    Coins in denominations of 1 American cent with a portrait of Lincoin on a gray background

    Max Zolotukhin/ Getty Images

  • Trail Mix

    Healthy snacks are great, but Halloween is all about the sugar rush. Kids aren’t exactly thrilled to find a mix of fruit and nuts in their bag. They’re hoping for chocolates and gummies, not something they associate with after-school snacks.

    Colorful trail mix in a white bowl with spoon

    dbvirago/ Getty Images

  • Coupons

    Adults may appreciate coupons for discounts at local businesses, but they don’t make for a fun Halloween treat for kids. Saving money is cool, but Halloween is all about instant gratification. And coupons for discounts don’t really make the cut.

    10% OFF coupon illustration set

    ichico/ Getty Images

  • Brochures or Pamphlets

    Halloween is not the time to distribute religious or informational materials. Kids are looking for fun and treats, not pamphlets. Consider giving those away another day that’s not Halloween.

    A shallow focus shot of a male standing near a door and giving out pamphlets while smiling

    Wirestock/ Getty Images

  • Toothbrushes and Dental Floss

    Halloween is all about the candy, right? So, if you toss a toothbrush or dental floss into a kid’s stash of treats, you’re basically inviting disappointment. Plus, it’s safe to assume that the trick-or-treater already has a toothbrush. Do they truly need another one?

    Dental floss and toothbrush on white background

    egal/ Getty Images

  • Unwrapped Candy

    Throwing unwrapped candy into a plastic pumpkin? That’s just asking for a sticky mess. Plus, it’s not the cleanest option. And given the concerns these days, it’s just another worry for parents who fear someone might mess with their child’s candy.

    Close-up of hard candies isolated on white background.

    LeventKonuk/ Getty Images

  • Homemade Treats

    Those fancy homemade snacks that look like they came straight from Pinterest can be cute, but if you don’t really know the kids or their parents, they might wonder about your intentions. Sticking to pre-packaged treats is your best bet on Halloween, especially if you’re trying to keep trick-or-treating simple and sanitary.

    Decorating Halloween gingerbreads of pumpkin lantern and skeletons with frosting. Girl holds pastry bag with black icing and decorates gingerbread pumpkin lantern

    13-Smile/ Getty Images

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