To twist a phrase made popular by one Tony the Tiger, sales of breakfast cereal are not "grrreat."

The New York Times recently published an article saying sales of cereal have dipped 30% (nearly $4 billion) since 2000. That's a swift Kix in the teeth for an industry that's as much a part of Americana as apple pie and baseball.

Why is this happening? It may sound Grape-Nuts, but it has a lot to do with millennials:

Almost 40 percent of the millennials surveyed by Mintel for its 2015 report said cereal was an inconvenient breakfast choice because they had to clean up after eating it.

Yes, a bowl and a spoon have become a hassle to deal with after filling your belly. Since this demographic can't be bothered with all that mess, more people prefer to grab a bite outside of the house (think Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks, McDonald's or any other place that offers quick options where all you have to do is pay money, eat and then throw out the containers when you're finished).

Cereal isn't the only form of food and drink that people don't want to deal with at home, either. Ground coffee and delivery continue to rise in popularity mostly because they're more convenient.

Whatever is going on, pundits remain at odds whether cereal sales will turn around, or, more appropriately, will get their snap, crackle and pop back.

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