What do Europeans eat for breakfast? It´s always good to go out of the routine and try something new. Learn more about
In the world, there
Breakfast is the first meal of the day, which breaks the fast as its name suggests. Some nutrition experts even consider breakfast to be the most important meal of the day. It is recommended that breakfast contain at least carbohydrates, dairy, and fruit. Having little or no good breakfast will affect the performance at work or school, the ability to concentrate, the state of mind and health in general. Europe is a small continent but very varied in terms of cultures and traditions, therefore breakfast, although it has common points, also has considerable differences between some areas and others
Breakfast in England and Ireland
The English breakfast is one of the richest and most varied. It consists mainly of eggs that can be fried, scrambled or poached, accompanied by sausages and bacon. Often they also add mushrooms, chips, beans, tomatoes, bread, beans or lentils, and toast with jam and fruit. Some drink milk, coffee or tea, and orange juice too. As it requires a lot of time for its elaboration, in many houses this full breakfast is only consumed on holidays and on weekdays they reduce the quantity a bit but the egg is never lacking. In Ireland, breakfast is similar to English although in smaller quantity.
Breakfast in Central European Countries: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Holland, and Belgium
In these countries, the breakfast consists of ham, eggs, bread, butter, cheese, sausage, fruit, jam, and cereals. In Holland some festivities such as Christmas, New Year or Easter Sunday are also celebrated at breakfast, expanding the range of products and consuming some of higher quality and budget, both salty and sweet. In Switzerland, they add the muesli to their breakfast, in Germany and Austrian sausages, and in Belgium waffles.
Breakfast in Nordic Countries: Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Finland, and Denmark
In these countries,
Breakfast in South and Mediterranean: Spain, Portugal, France, Monaco, Italy, Malta and Greece
Usually, in these countries, their breakfast does not have the same importance as in the center and north of the continent. It is usually eaten less quantity and variety than necessary and quickly. Although within each of these countries there are also variations, the most common is to drink milk with coffee or cocoa, especially children. It is usually accompanied by bread, pastries, cookies, jam or butter toast and cereals. It also consumes orange juice or apple. In Portugal and Greece, yogurt is also consumed at breakfast. In France, it is usual to consume croissants and in Spain, they also include croissants and muffins at their first meal of the day.
Breakfast in Russia and Eastern Countries
The Russians, as a breakfast drink, usually prefer tea, and they accompany it with blinis, which are like crepes or waffles. They also eat cereal mixed with water or milk. In the other Eastern countries, preferences are more balanced between milk, milk with cocoa, coffee with milk, or tea. Cheese and honey are also present in Eastern European breakfast. They also include some salty food such as cheese sandwiches and sausages.
Southeastern countries such as Bulgaria, Albania or Macedonia often include yogurt for breakfast, while in Slovenia, Serbia and Croatia, most influenced by Austria, they often eat sausages. In Hungary and Poland, the breakfast is very abundant and elaborated, including also eggs and vegetables. In all these countries a varied range of local pastries is also included at breakfast.
People say that we have to eat breakfast like kings, have lunch like princes and dinner as beggars, but in some countries, that law is sometimes not fulfilled. The important thing is not to skip breakfast, a cup of coffee with milk and some cookies is better than leaving the house on an empty stomach, remember that breakfast is the most important meal of the day whether you are in Germany or if you are in Italy.