Did you have cercal (麦片)for breakfast this morning? I you did, you're not alone. Lots of people eat cercal for breakfast every day. In fact, cereal is popular all over the world. I all started with one man, Will Keith Kellogg.
Will was born on April 7, 1860, in Battle Creek, Michigan. His first job was as a stock boy at the Battle Creek Sanitarium. A sanitarium is a special kind of place that is a little like a hospital. A sanitarium is meant for people who are ill for a long time or who are getting over a serious illness. Will had other jobs as he got older. But when he grew up, he became a manager of the sanitarium. His brother, John, was the chief doctor there.
One big problem at the sanitarium was the patients' diets. The patients needed healthy diets, but it was also important for the food to taste good. Will was trying to find a good food choice to take the place of the bread, but it wasn't going very well. Then, by accident will found something even better. He left some wheat to cook too long. When it was rolled out, it formed large, thin flakes. He asked his brother to serve it to the patients, and they loved it! In fact, they liked it so much that they wanted breakfast flakes sent to them even after they left the sanitarium. So Will started a new business in 1884: selling packaged breakfast flakes. Before long, Kellogg's breakfast cereal was popular in other countries, too. Today, there are many kinds of breakfast cereals. But it all started with one man and one idea.
Will did more than just create breakfast flakes. His company made a lot of money. But he always shared it with others generously. He used much of his money to help children. He also used his money to help in several other charities (慈善机构). Will Kdllogg died in 1951. But his most famous invention is as popular as ever.
