Breakfast, Revisited: The Most Common Morning Foods Around The World
We’re all human. We all wake up, rub the crusties out of our eyes, and drag ourselves out of bed—usually to the all-too-familiar sound of an alarm clock.
After shaking the sleep from our bones, brushing our teeth, and generally just letting our bodies wake up, our stomach starts to growl as the hunger pangs start to make themselves known.
While we may differ day-to-day about what kind of breakfast we’re having, it can’t come as a surprise that many of us even share the same meal. Just think—the next time you’re scarfing down some oats at the crack of dawn, you’re sharing the same experience with countless others across the globe.
Porridge
This one can’t come as a surprise. Humans have been growing grain for over 10 thousand years. Across the world, folks are mixing their oats with water, milk, butter, broth, sugar, fruit, or veggies. For instance, Nigerian porridge is made of corn mixed with evaporated milk, while China and Indonesia make a porridge known as “congee,” a savory rice dish.
Porridge can come in many forms, most often made by mixing grain, cereal, or legumes. Alongside congee, oatmeal, polenta, grits, and kasha are all considered “porridge.”
Eggs
Another powerhouse that often takes center stage at the breakfast table, eggs are an incredibly versatile food that can add a bit of protein to any dish.
The United States and Canada will often eat eggs on toast or eggs Benedict. In Mexico, huevos rancheros is served with fried eggs, while in France, a fried or poached egg is served atop a dish known as croque-madame. North African countries make a dish known as shaskuka, a hearty one-dish meal, and India and Pakistan like to scramble their eggs for egg bhurji or khagina.
Orange Juice
Everyone in the world knows how important it is to get that Vitamin C. You can see orange juice on breakfast tables everywhere. France, Tunisia, Japan, Iceland, Spain, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Argentina, and the United States are all common orange juice drinkers, or at the very least, fruit juice drinkers.
In other places like the United Kingdom or Puerto Rico, orange slices or peels are also common sides on a breakfast plate.
Rice
While we could’ve included rice in the porridge section of this list, this common grain holds its own when it comes to breakfasts. You may be surprised to know that most countries in Asia usually eat rice as a part of their breakfast, either in the congee style, steamed, fried, or mixed with an egg batter.
Rice is less common as a breakfast food in Europe and North America, but has maintained its hold as a morning staple across the East.
Protein
This is a little vague, and for that, we apologize. However, you can’t deny that protein is an important and incredibly common part of breakfast. Whether you’re eating peameal bacon with the Canadians, spicy sausage in Turkey, or ham in Panama, chances are you’re going to come across a meat that will keep you feeling full for the rest of the morning.
