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Breakfast is the first meal taken after rising from
a night's sleep, most often eaten in the early
morning before undertaking the day's work. Among
English speakers, "breakfast" can be used to refer
to this meal or to refer to a meal composed of
traditional breakfast foods (such as eggs, porridge
and sausage) served at any time of day.
The word literally refers to breaking the fasting
period of the prior night. It has its origin in the
Christian custom of fasting from food between the
supper meal of one day and receiving Holy Communion
the following morning (such a Eucharistic fast is
still observed by Orthodox Christians, but is
shortened to one hour before Mass for Roman
Catholics). |
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Foregoing the natural craving to eat was seen as an act of
self-denial that honors God, while strengthening the
religious resolve and faith of the believer.
Breakfast foods vary widely from place to place, but often
include a carbohydrate such as grains or cereals, fruit,
vegetables, a protein food such as eggs, meat or fish, and a
beverage such as tea, coffee, milk, or fruit juice. Coffee,
milk, tea, juice, breakfast cereals, pancakes, waffles,
sausages, French toast, bacon, sweetened breads, fresh
fruit, vegetables, eggs, mushrooms, baked beans, muffins,
crumpets and toast with butter, margarine, jam or marmalade
are common examples of Western breakfast foods, though a
large range of preparations and ingredients are associated
with breakfast globally.
Effect on health
Some nutritional experts have long referred to breakfast as
the most important meal of the day, citing studies that find
that people who skip breakfast are disproportionately likely
to have problems with concentration, metabolism, weight, and
cardiac health. The nutritionist Monica Reinagel has argued
the metabolic benefits have been exaggerated, noting the
improvement in cognition has been found among children, but
is much less significant among adults. Reinagel also
explains that the link between skipping breakfast and
increased weight is likely behavioral—compensating with
snacks and eating more later—and therefore not inevitable.
Some say that skipping breakfast may even lead to diabetes
as well as coronary disease. |
