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Breakfast is a meal, often light, usually taken in the morning. The name derives from the concept that you have not eaten whilst sleeping, i.e., you are fasting during that time, and break that fast
with the meal. It is therefore a calque of the French déjeuner or petit déjeuner and the Spanish desayuno. The German
Frühstück, the Danish morgenmad, the Esperanto matenmanĝo, and the Chinese 早餐 mean "morning meal."
Many nutritionists promote breakfast as a very important meal which provides
important nourishment and energy to begin the day. Studies have indicated that food eaten early in the day is less likely to
contribute to fat gain than food eaten in the evening.
North America
Traditional North American breakfasts may feature such foods as
toast, cold breakfast
cereals, hot oat porridge, eggs, bacon, ham, sausages, pancakes, waffles,
French toast, pastries such as
croissants, doughnuts, and muffins, and fruit. Fashionable hotel breakfast
buffets also may include bagels with cream cheese and lox, sweetened flavored
yoghurt in packaged cups, and fruit
salad regardless of the season.
Breakfast for many North American workers consists of coffee and a breakfast pastry
purchased on their way to work. Alternative food items that fit into this "eat-on-the-go" or "eat-at-the-job" breakfast strategy
are packaged yogurt, fast food breakfast items, fresh fruit (either purchased on
the go or brought from home), fruit cups, toaster pastries such as Pop-Tarts and
instant "just-pour-hot-water" oatmeal.
British Isles
Britons would add tomatoes, mushrooms, black pudding, crumpets, porridge and fish to the list - see Full English breakfast.
The Irish would include white
pudding, soda bread and in Ulster, soda farls and potato farls; see Irish breakfast.
British imperial experience in India introduced kedgeree to the breakfast buffet
in grander households.
Continental Europe
English speakers tend to eat more for breakfast than continental Europeans, whose
breakfast is scarcely more than a snack to tide one over until lunch—commonly
called a "Continental breakfast."
In France a typical domestic breakfast will consist of bowls (rather than cups or
mugs) of coffee, often café au lait, or hot chocolate with
tartines - slices of baguette spread with jam - to be dunked. Croissants are
also traditional.
A distinctive breakfast of Europe is the Madrid early morning post-discotheque fare
of chocolate y churros—the standard extremely thick, hot and sweet hot chocolate with fritters.
Yoghurt or, especially in central and eastern Europe, kefir may be consumed.
A Dutch Breakfast consists of poached eggs
and ham, served on toast and topped with cheese.
The typical German Breakfast consists of bread rolls or toast with butter,
honey, jam, ham or sausage, a soft boiled egg, and coffee. However, cereals have become popular, and regional variation is
significant.
Hotels and other types of lodging in Europe typically include breakfast in their rates, and in many cases, especially in
larger hotels, it consists of a breakfast buffet. Specific items will vary from country to country, depending on local breakfast
tastes and habits. In Switzerland, for example, "luncheon meats", cheese, yoghurt, prepared fruit, butter, croissants, breads and
rolls are served. Regardless of location the standard requirements for a British breakfast (eggs, potatoes, sausage, tomatoes,
mushrooms) are often a part of the buffet.
South America
South American breakfasts feature many items seen in North American
and Continental European breakfasts, as well as local foods. Tamales with fresh bread
is a common breakfast in many countries. Coffee and tea are usually taken with milk.
Asia
Chinese breakfasts typically include rice congee/jook, you tiao, and soy milk.
In Korea breakfast has not existed as a distinct concept. Food eaten in the morning
does differ substantially from the other meals of the day. Kimchi (a mixture of
fermented vegetables) and rice are staples of the morning meal.
In Thailand it is customary to eat soup
for breakfast. Street eateries in Bangkok offer a variety of different soups.
In the cities of Burma the traditional breakfast is Chapati (Indian style flat bread) dipped in sweet-milk (home-made sweet condensed milk).
In most of South India, the most popular breakfast includes a variety of
possible dishes, such as idlis, vadas, dosas and chapatis. They are usually served with hot
sambar and at least one kind of chutney (usually coconut chutney). Breakfast is usually followed by a glass of tea or coffee, both with milk and
sugar. Pongal is a common breakfast item in
Tamil Nadu, while uppittu and
kesaribath are the common items in
Karnataka.
The usual North Indian breakfast
consists of chapatis or parathas with a vegetable curry, and sweets like kaju burfi.
A traditional Japanese breakfast usually includes items like miso soup,
rice, natto, grilled fish, and a pickled vegetable. Western foods like toast, coffee and eggs are also common.
Middle East
In most Arab areas, the most popular breakfast by far is Pitta bread dipped in rich
Labnah, a type of creamy curd, with olive oil and Za'atar (a common
Middle-Eastern spice).
In Egypt, the traditional breakfast is Ful Madamis: Slow cooked Egyptian Ful Beans (and
sometimes lentils] too), dressed in olive
oil, lemon juice and garlic.
In Israel, a typical Israeli breakfast will include egg(hard-boild, soft-boiled, fried or omelette), fresh bread, cheese (Usualy some kind of soft white cheese.
Most often fine Israeli cottage cheese), sliced vegetables or Israeli salad and olives. Proferred
drinks include Coffee or tea and orange juice. While this is the traditional breakfast (and is served in many restaurants in the
morning), nowadays most people will have a bowl of cereal and a cup of coffee before
rushing off to work.
Drinks
Common beverages include fruit
juices, milk, tea, and/or coffee.
Catering
Some restaurants devote themselves to breakfast or have special breakfast
menus. The field is dominated on one hand by greasy spoons, diners, cafés,
cafeterias, and fast food places, and on the other hand by hotels. However, some breakfast places resemble standard restaurants in procedure, selection, and price.
Special occasions
Breakfast is occasionally served as an entertainment meal. More popular than breakfast in this regard, however, is brunch.
The serving of a pancake breakfast is traditional on Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday), and some celebrate a festive breakfast on Christmas morning.
During Ramadan, Muslims describe the
meal after sunset that breaks the fast as (Iftar).
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