Breakfast

Lore & Background

In Old English, a regular morning meal was called morgenmete, and the word dinner originally referred to a meal after fasting. Around the mid-13th century, that meaning of dinner faded, and by the 15th century 'breakfast' came into use in written English to describe a morning meal. In Ancient Egypt, peasants ate a daily meal most likely in the morning consisting of soup, beer, bread, and onions before work. The traditional breakfast believed to have been cooked in ancient Egypt included fūl, baladi bread, falafel, and a mixture of fava beans with onions, garlic, parsley and coriander. In Ancient Greece, the meal ariston was taken not long after sunrise, as noted in the Iliad and Odyssey. Later, a meal called akratisma was consumed immediately after rising, consisting of barley bread dipped in wine, sometimes with figs or olives. Pancakes called tēganitēs were also made. Romans called breakfast ientaculum, composed of bread, cheese, olives, salad, nuts, raisins, and cold meat left over from the night before, along with wine-based drinks like mulsum. Roman soldiers ate pulmentus, a porridge made from roasted spelt wheat or barley. During the European Middle Ages, breakfast was commonly eaten by working people, children, the elderly, and the sick, while the upper classes did not partake. Eating breakfast meant one was poor or a low-status farmer. By the 15th century, breakfast in western Europe often included meat, and noble men began to indulge. The 16th century introduction of caffeinated beverages into the European diet added coffee and tea to breakfast. In the modern era, breakfast varies widely across Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America, with regional specialties such as miso soup in Japan, croissants in France, and full breakfast in the United Kingdom.

Reader's Guide

Breakfast has evolved significantly across cultures and centuries, reflecting social status, economic conditions, and regional food availability. In ancient times, it was a practical meal for laborers and soldiers, while in medieval Europe it was often associated with poverty. The shift from a two-meal system to including breakfast among the upper classes occurred gradually, with meat becoming common by the 15th century. The introduction of coffee and tea in the 16th century transformed breakfast habits, especially in Europe. Today, breakfast remains a culturally diverse meal, from Egyptian fava beans to Japanese miso soup and the British full breakfast. Its significance lies in its role as the first meal after fasting, a practice documented since antiquity, and its adaptation to local ingredients and traditions. The historical record shows that breakfast has never been a fixed meal in timing or content, varying by region, class, and era.

Did You Know?

• In Ancient Egypt, peasants ate a morning meal of soup, beer, bread, and onions before work.
• The word 'breakfast' came into use in written English around the 15th century.
• Roman soldiers ate pulmentus, a porridge made from roasted spelt wheat or barley, for breakfast.
• In the 13th century, breakfast in Europe sometimes consisted of rye bread, cheese, and low-alcohol beer.