Are cereals alright to have once in a while if you're trying to lose weight?

Portion control: Cereals are fine but watch for very high-sugar types of cereals. Whole grains from bins at health food stores are many times better than boxed cereals with high-fructose corn syrup. Use small amounts of milk. Dairy has both a lot of fat and calories, and can be pro-inflammatory. You may want to try coconut milk or almond milk instead.