When it comes to choosing what to have for breakfast, the decision usually a no-brainer. Most people stick to whatever they normally have (cereal, oatmeal, maybe an egg sandwich) and go on their merry way without giving the meal much thought.
But have you ever stopped to think about how breakfast differs in other countries?
Although grains and fruit make cameos in most regions, the exact meals can actually vary quite a bit — not just in the type of foods served, but also in the quantity. After all, breakfast may not be the most important meal of the day. Sure, we need to consume calories early to fuel the rest of our waking hours, but a large breakfast would probably put most of us to sleep before lunchtime.
Here are 20 examples of typical breakfasts or common options from countries all around the world. How do they compare to your usual meal?
Argentina
Breakfast in Argentina is a no-frills affair. You’ll find locals typically eating one of two things: tostados (toast) or medialunas ("half-moons"), which are pastries similar to croissants but a smaller and sweeter. Of course, these are typically eaten with coffee.
Australia
Australians love their “brekkie,” and one of the most popular items is toast with some Vegemite (a dark brown spread made from yeast extract and various vegetable and spice additives — click here for cooking ideas and recipes), avocado, and sometimes tomato. Australians also love muesli with yogurt and bacon and egg rolls, which are often topped with cheese and sometimes barbecue sauce.
Brazil
While Brazilians enjoy some traditional breakfast foods — such as eggs, toast, cereal, and fresh fruit — locals usually pass on heavy or rich dishes featuring an abundance of meat, loads of cheese, and other things that could pass as dessert. Aside from lots of fruit, favorite dishes instead include pão d’água (bread that’s crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, often served with guava paste and a bit of mozzarella cheese), creamy polenta, and banana sponge cake. Breakfast is generally on the light side, because lunch is actually seen as the most important meal of the day.
Burma
In Burma (or Myanmar), a morning might start out with a plate of sticky fried rice topped with boiled yellow beans. This savory dish, called kaut nyin paung, is sometimes served with fried fish and a cup of green tea.
China
Congee (rice porridge) is a popular comfort food and breakfast item in China, as well as several other Asian countries. This savory porridge can be eaten plain or topped with anything from ground meat to squid. Another breakfast (or snack) option is bao or bao zi, fluffy soft dough buns that are steamed and stuffed with a variety of fillings (pork, beef, or vegetables).
Finland
A hearty bowl of oat-based porridge, called puuro, is a common breakfast in Finland, often served with milk, fresh or frozen berries, and a bit of butter.
France
A piece of baguette topped with butter and jam (known as a tartine) is a common breakfast in France. Breakfast pastries, such as croissants, are also often eaten with coffee or a glass of juice.
Germany
Although the younger generation in Germany is trending toward quicker, simpler breakfasts like cereal, many folks still opt for a traditional meal. This consists of bread or bread rolls with various spreads such as butter, margarine, marmalade, honey, quark (a type of curd cheese), wurst (sausage), and cheese. Boiled eggs or muesli (often mixed with yogurt or milk and topped with fresh fruit) are also popular choices.
India
A typical breakfast in India varies depending on the region, but it is often quite similar to a lunch or dinner. A breakfast plate in India might include roti (flatbread), dosas (thin crêpes made of lentils), or idlis (steamed rice-dough pancakes), and different dips and chutneys, as well as spiced potatoes.
Israel
Eggs seem to be loved all over the world for breakfast. In Israel, shakshuka — a rich dish of eggs poached in a tomato sauce with chiles and onions — is a common choice, and it’s easy to see (or taste) why.
Italy
The most traditional Italian breakfast is very simple: a cornetto, which is similar to a croissant and often filled with jam, chocolate, or pastry cream, and a good, strong cup of espresso or cappuccino.
Japan
A breakfast in Japan is usually light, savory, and simple. A bowl of miso soup and rice or rice porridge is often the main part of the meal, sometimes accompanied by a piece of cooked fish and pickled vegetables — and, of course, a cup of green tea.
Korea
In Korea, a typical breakfast consists of foods that could be found at lunch or dinner as well: a stew of some sort, rice, kimchi, and several side dishes such as spinach or spicy cucumbers.
Mexico
Depending on the region of Mexico, typical breakfast items may vary slightly, but often include ingredients such as flour or corn tortillas, eggs, beans, and sauces, which are compiled in different ways. One common breakfast item are chilaquiles — fried corn tortilla chips topped with green or red salsa (or mole), cheese, and refried beans, sometimes with eggs and/or pulled chicken mixed in.
Morocco
A very popular breakfast food in Morocco is khlea — small strips of dried beef — mixed with fried eggs. Additionally, Moroccans enjoy eating khobz, which is round, flat Moroccan bread dipped in olive oil. Tea (often mint tea) is also very popular — not only in the mornings but throughout the day.
Russia
Most Russians will have a small, quick, and early breakfast consisting of kasha (porridge made from different grains), butterbrots (an open-faced sandwich topped with butter and one other ingredient, such as ham), tvorog (similar to cottage cheese), boiled or fried eggs, or cereal. Coffee or tea is also a must.
Spain
Sweden
A smörgås, or an open-faced sandwich, is a typical breakfast item in Sweden. The dish consists of two slices of bread topped with a thin spread of butter and a combination of toppings including ham, cheese, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, and/or a hard-boiled egg.
Switzerland
A breakfast item now enjoyed in several parts of the world — muesli — actually has its roots in Switzerland. Here, the cereal blend of oat flakes, nuts, and raisins or other types of dried fruit, is often eaten with yogurt.
Venezuela
The soft corn flatbread (known as an arepa) is eaten in Venezuela throughout the day, but is most commonly served in the morning stuffed with different fillings such as cheese, meat, or beans.
