Difference between cereal and grain

Cereal and grain are related but not identical terms. Grains and cereals are both crops that are grown for human consumption, but there are some differences between them.

Grain refers to the seeds of grass-like plants, which are members of the Poaceae family. These plants include crops such as wheat, rice, corn, oats, barley, and millet. Grains are typically harvested and then used to produce various food products such as flours, bread, pasta, and breakfast cereals.

On the other hand, cereals are a specific type of grain. Cereal refers to the edible seeds of any grass cultivated for its grain, such as wheat, rice, corn, oats, and barley. Cereal is often used as a term to describe the breakfast food products that are made from grains, such as cereal flakes, granola, and oatmeal.

To determine the difference between a grain and cereal, you need to consider the broader category of grains, which encompasses various grass-like plants grown for their seeds. Cereals, on the other hand, are a subset of grains and specifically refer to the edible seeds of certain grasses that are commonly used as breakfast foods.