Breakfast…the most important meal of the day.
Even the word explains itself - breaking the fasting period of the previous night.
It is universally accepted that our breakfast is also our fuel for the day ahead.
If we do not eat well in the morning, we cannot perform our daily duties successfully.
Many people say that they are just not ‘breakfast’ people, they don’t wake up hungry or they
don’t have enough time for a meal.
Some just prefer a cup of coffee or tea to get them going.
But it’s worth noting that our bodies require a more nutritious source of energy with high
fiber & protein to wake them up and, more importantly, keep them awake.
Let’s take a look at a few breakfast traditions around the world and see how people go about
starting their days -
‘The Full English’ hailing from the UK is one of the most famous breakfasts, more
for its’ shock volume than anything else.
Usually consisting of toast, sausages, eggs (fried or scrambled), bacon, fried tomatoes,
mushrooms, baked beans, hash browns (and a small truck – just kidding about the truck).
This isn’t considered an everyday breakfast, though the late Prime Minister, Sir Winston
Churchill ate it daily.
The Brits generally save this for special occasions, hangover cures, or weekend treats.
The American way is actually not too far off from the British version, though they tend
to substitute toast for pancakes and snub the baked beans, mushrooms & tomatoes completely!
Whilst we are covering breakfasts of volume, let’s talk Turkish.
Using lots of mini plates to display the different ingredients, breakfast in Turkey is a huge
spread consisting of various breads, eggs, cured meats, olives, fruits, jams, cheeses,
and seasonal vegetables.
Definitely a healthier option to the Brits or the Americans, the Turks are known to enjoy
this cultural feast every day of the week!
Israel, like Turkey, are fans of big brekkies as a special time to bond with family.
They generally opt for fish over meat and include yogurt as a staple.
Their most famous dish is ‘Shakshuka’, poached eggs with tomatoes.
Heading further East, Japan’s breakfasts are known for their healthy content.
The Japanese are also big lovers of using small plates and dishes for the various ingredients,
eventually totaling what most Westerners would consider a full dinner-like meal; rice, miso
soup, pickles, salad, tofu, and generally a main of fish or meat.
In fact, almost all Asian countries tend to enjoy rice as their morning fuel.
China, ever-famous for its dim sum, is known to eat them even in the morning.
With an almost endless variety of sweet, salty & savoury tastes, the Chinese enjoy these
steamed buns with congee, a mild-flavoured rice porridge, another favourite around Asia.
Finally, let’s head over to Africa.
Here, breakfast is kept simple as most Africans eat a mix of cereals, porridges, or breads.
Actually, coffee or tea seem to be the all-important element for adults to kick-start their day.
And this is not dissimilar to most European countries where bread and coffee or tea are
the fundamentals with some variations per region.
For example, the Spanish enjoy churros with chocolate, the French are famous for their
croissants, Italians for their cornettos and Belgians with their waffles.
Which one are you in the mood for?
Now, the important question is…Coffee or tea?
And … Would you like milk and sugar with that coffee?