Breakfast Ideas

Where do our breakfast ideas come from? Well partly it has to do with the connotations of the word(s) we use to describe the first meal of the day. And partially it has to do with cultural culinary delights.

So, for example - if you're from the Western World - cereal is frequently pushed as breakfast... but it might not be in other parts of the world.

However, our bodies need this time of not eating because it's during this time when energy is freed up to perform functions vital to the maintenance of our bodies - like cell repair and tissue maintenance. So people with nighttime eating disorder really aren't giving their bodies sufficient time to do these talks because their bodies are busy utilizing energy to digest food.

Breakfast Ideas from
England, America, Australia...

This means a combination of anything from packaged prepared foods such as cereal, pop-tarts, muffins, pancakes, biscuits and gravy and so on. And for others egg and bacon with toast (with butter and jam) along with tea, coffee or orange juice, fruit and yoghurt.

Other Global Breakfast Ideas

In France, 'petit dejeuner' and in Italy 'prima colazione' seem quite far from the idea of breaking a fast - both mean a 'little' or a 'first' lunch. Almost as if they are only something small to tide you over until a midday meal.

And in Portugal, we'd often stop in at the Portuguese cafe 'da manhã', it's literally just a 'morning coffee,' and we'd probably land up having a croissant with it. And even the German term 'frühstück, hardly even rates breakfast as a meal. Literally translated, it means, an "early bite."

I come from South Africa, where Afrikaans, a derivative of Dutch is spoken, they refer to it as 'ontbyt' which comes from the Dutch 'ontbijt' which can mean either breakfast or a snack.

In many Asian countries, cereal isn't even vaguely on the agenda - most people eat the same sorts of foods that they would eat for any other meal. I remember doing a hike and white-water canoeing in Nepal, we even had curried vegetables for breakfast one morning!

Depending where you are in India you could enjoy eggs with spices, potatoes, and onions, fresh fruits and yogurt or even rice, lentils, and spices.

Our very Westernized hotel in Egypt served Westernized breakfasts consisting of a spread fit for a king, but some of the locals told us that it wouldn't be uncommon to eat a spread of fava beans, onion, and tomato served with pita.

And I remember in South America breakfast seemed to be something very light, usually milky coffee with bread or sweet breads. Their big emphasis was on late suppers.

Russian breakfasts, I have to admit left much to be desired (at least for me). Typically we were given a type of sour tea, some black bread, blini, sausages, a type of fish-roe mousse and even cucumber pickles are also typical breakfast items.

My Breakfast Ideas have been culturally defined

It's only as I've grown older, and started listening more to my body than cultural messages (and let's not forget those advertisers of breakfast products and the influence they have), that my breakfasting ideas have started to change to suit my body more.

Everyone has an opinion- and yours matters: Where are you from - what do you like to eat for breakfast in your part of the world? What is the word for breakfast there and what connotations does it have?

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Scottish Porridge is very healthy! 
I come from Scotland - and although you can get served big 'greasy' breakfasts if you are here on holiday - a favourite is the humble bowl of porridge....

Have nutrition, will travel! 
I'm an egg freak! I usually have something a couple of hours after I get up, and French toast and scrambled eggs are a special treat.

But the majority ...

Where I like to eat Breakfast 
This is a little canyon in Zion National Park in Southern Utah. Breakfast on a waterfall is great.


This is what you can do if you live a debt free ...

Need breakfast ideas 
I need help for breakfast that is healthy. It cannot include any dairy, strawberries, or orange juice. I am allergic. Please help! Thank you!

Add Fruits to a Cereal!  Not rated yet
My absolute favorite thing to eat for breakfast is Shreddies. But not just any Shreddies... I love my cereal with Fresh Blueberries to it! This is not ...

Cereal during the work week, burritos on the weekend  Not rated yet
I live in the U.S. (Texas), and I look forward to my breakfast every day. I found a cereal I absolutely LOVE. The brand is Kashi and the type I eat is ...

Bananas for Breakfast  Not rated yet
I eat 2-3 bananas every day for breakfast, plus dried dates, figs, or apricots, and then an apple on the way to school. It gets my day started feeling ...