Breakfast Traditions Around the World

What is the most common breakfast in the world? Eggs, cold cereal, toasts, or maybe pancakes?.. 

Breakfast traditions vary wildly from place to place, and lifestyle is a big part of it. Fast-paced lifestyle has changed our eating habits: many people eat on the go, some even skip breakfast entirely! But what do people eat when they do have some time in the morning?

Let’s take a look at what traditional breakfast looks like in different countries of the world. In European countries like France, Italy and Spain breakfast is certainly not the most important meal of the day: usually it’s a quick bite of some pastry like croissant or baguette accompanied by a strong coffee. 

The UK is renowned for its Full English Breakfast, also known as a Fry-Up (as everything can be fried in one pan). A Full English Breakfast consists of fried eggs, black pudding, sausages, baked beans, bacon, tomatoes and mushrooms, with fried bread or buttered toast on the side. Fun fact: Winston Churchill was very fond of a Full English breakfast and would eat it every day! However, such a hearty breakfast is a rare treat nowadays: cereal and toast are more common in England.

Cereal with milk accompanied by muffins and orange juice is a go-to breakfast food in many American households. Eggs with bacon, pancakes and waffles are also popular.

In Asia, noodles and rice are staple foods, and sticky rice is a major part of breakfast in Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. In Japan, breakfast is usually light and simple. People may begin their day with a bowl of miso soup and rice, sometimes with some pickled vegetables, fish and tofu.

Traditional breakfasts in China vary by region. In the north, it’s common to grab some street food like steamed buns on the way to work, while southerners enjoy having fried dough sticks with soy milk for breakfast. Noodle soup or dumplings are also popular. Another extremely popular breakfast food coming from the south of China is dim sum: an assortment of snacks served in round bamboo baskets. 

What about you? Do you prefer a simple, nutritious snack to fuel your day, or indulge in a hearty breakfast