Let’s start with the things perhaps we do know about breakfast. We’ve been told many times that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. The word means ‘breaking one’s fast’. Many modern variations of breakfast are nutritionally inferior, high in sugar, less filling and ‘bland’ compared to other meals. (That needn’t be the case.)  Now, let’s look at a few facts which may surprise you:

1. Breakfast wasn’t always eaten as soon as people awoke

 In the early 13^th century, it was taken after morning mass.  It was often eaten around 10.30am. It only really became an early morning meal when the concept of employment started in 16^th century.  People needed to eat before going to work. 

2. We been eating pancakes since prehistoric times, in many cultures

The analysis of stone age tools show that we have been eating pancakes for a very long time – and not just for breakfast. 

3. Orange juice became popular following doctor’s orders

 How orange juice became a breakfast staple is how it was marketed to the world for its health benefits following terrible outbreaks of flu. The development of juice pasteurization in the early 20th century, made canned juice a popular start to the day.

4. The full English breakfast is one of the longest standing traditional dishes

Dating back to the 1300s, it was the gentry who initially introduced the idea of the full English breakfast inviting friends and neighbours. It makes it one of England’s longest standing traditional dishes 

5. The word “cereal” derives from Ceres, the name of the Roman goddess of harvest and agriculture

6. Cereal was invented in the United States but Morocco eats the most cereal in the world

The first cold cereal was invented in 1863 by James Caleb Jackson which was similar to granola. Cornflakes came along later, invented by Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, who believed cereal was a health food which would improve Americans' digestion. He also believed that its bland properties would lead people away from sin!   A study in 2013 showed that Morocco eats the most cereal in the world.

7. Around 50% of the world’s consumption of bananas are eaten at breakfast

Over 100 billion bananas are eaten around the world every year making it the world’s most popular fruit. What’s surprising is that around 50% of these are eaten at breakfast time.

8. Coffee replaced beer as the morning drink

The increased popularity of coffee in the 18th and 19th centuries went hand in hand with industrialisation, and the caffeine ‘hit’ helped productivity. Before that, the staple drink for breakfast was beer (or similar).

9. Regularly eating a healthy breakfast helps improve memory and cognitive performance

10. According to Oscar Wilde ‘Only dull people are brilliant at breakfast.’

 I wonder if he would have felt the same way if he had tried Haskapa?!

 

 

Sources: facts.net, Mashed.com