Breakfast food in America has always had its own kind of feeling: diners, your favorite coffee mug, cereal boxes that contain a hidden toy (or the chance to win money). Outside of the U.S., some prefer home-cooked, slow breakfasts to start their day—relaxed and fresh. Others might enjoy a quick pick-me-up on their way to work. And of course “just coffee for me” is universal. But breakfast is breakfast at the end of the day … or, rather, the beginning. Textbook definition simply means to break your fast. Here’s what that looks like all over the world. Happy breakfasting. No pulp for us.
Disclaimer: the pronunciation is not based on the phonetic alphabet, but simply what we think it sounds like when we hear the word out loud. Hope it helps.
Croatia
On the Menu:
- A glass of kefir [pronounced kuh-fear] (yogurt drink)
- Hard-boiled eggs or scrambled eggs
- Prosciutto, hrenovke [fren-uff-kay] (similar to American hot dogs), or cevapcici [sehv-ops–ee-key] (mini beef sausages)
- Savory pies (meat, cheese and spinach) and pastries
- Bread (usually fresh or homemade)
Fun Fact:
Traditional Croatian food has been influenced by a melting pot of all of the countries and cultures that once invaded its land. More specific to Croats themselves, they love a good brunch, or what they call marenda. A snack of meat slices, like prosciutto or kulen [cool-ehn], and cheese sure does sound like a good pre-lunch ritual.
Israel
On the Menu:
- Shakshuka [shock-shuke-ah] (poached eggs in a spicy tomato sauce eaten with pita bread and hummus)
- Small pieces of fish
- Yogurt
- Pastries
- A typical Israeli salad with tomatoes and cucumbers
- Olives
- Coffee
Fun Fact:
It’s common for Israelis to have orange juice or lemonade with their breakfast. And lemonade there is simply called lemon juice. That sure does make more sense.
Greece
On the Menu:
- Savory pies (spinach pies, cheese pies or meat pies)—more commonly known as spanakopita [spahn-ah-cope-eet-uh]
- Yogurt, yes the Greek kind, with walnuts and honey
- Orange juice (a very popular brand is Loux)
- Coffee
- Hard-boiled eggs or eggs scrambled with tomatoes and feta cheese
- Bread with jams or marmalades and cheeses
Significance:
Historically, Greeks believed breakfast to be the most nutritious and filling meal of the day, and it varied depending on the region. In large farming regions, animal fats were the main aspect of the dish; islands like Crete relied on eggs with stakka [stah-kah] (similar to clotted cream); and in Epirus, pies with cheese and butter were the go-to.
Singapore
On the Menu:
- Kaya [k-eye-uh] toast sandwich with spreads of kaya (a traditional jam made with coconut, eggs and sometimes sugar) and squares of butter
- A bowl of soft-boiled eggs in hot water (for the kaya toast)
- Coffee (or as they call it, kopi) and tea (teh)
Fun Fact:
Way back when, or maybe not that far back in time, Singaporeans used to add a slab of butter to their cups of kopi to balance out the strong taste of Robusta coffee beans. Some still follow this unique cultural tradition, but coffee in the country now is roasted with sugar, butter, margarine or lard.
Poland
On the Menu:
- Jajecznica [yah-yetch-neatz-ah] (scrambled eggs with sausages and potato pancakes)
- Open-faced sandwich with cold cut meats, sausages, eggs or cheeses
Fun Fact:
Aside from coffee and tea, another popular beverage for breakfast in Poland is Inka. This roasted grain drink was used as a coffee substitute during the country’s Communist rule that led to coffee shortages. Oh, forgot to mention, it’s caffeine-free, so don’t get your hopes up too high on weening off your coffee addiction.
Italy
On the Menu:
- Cappuccino [we-hope-you-know-this-one]
- Italian croissant (cornetto) or biscotti
Significance:
Like their French and Spanish neighbors, Italians enjoy light breakfasts. The heavier meals are saved for lunch and dinner.
Japan
On the Menu:
- Steamed rice and miso soup
- Ohitashi [owe-he-tah-shee] (boiled vegetables)
- Pickles
- Natto [nat-toh] (fermented soybeans)
- Grilled fish (to complement the rice of course)
Fun Fact:
Traditional Japanese breakfast is called “choushoku.”[choh-oo-syoh-keh] The name is as grand as the meal itself.
Sweden
On the Menu:
- Nordic open-faced sandwiches with cold meat, fish, cheese or vegetables (like cucumbers)
- Cereal, muesli [me-you-sleh] or porridge
- Pannkakor [pan-kah-kor] (thin pancakes, similar to theFrench crêpe) topped with sweet fillings made from cloudberries and lingonberries
- Filmjölk [fill-em-yelk] (sour buttermilk)
- Strong coffee
Fun Fact:
Swedish culture invented the idea of Smörgåsbord [s’more-gos-board], which literally means “cold table” but represents a buffet spread of hot and cold items. This is essentially how their breakfast works in one word.
Costa Rica
On the Menu:
- Gallo pinto: Stir-fried rice with black beans, red peppers, and onions topped with sour cream (natilla [nat-teeyuh]) and salsa, usually paired with eggs & sausage (salchichón [sal-chee-chon]), avocado, cheese and tortillas
- Fresh fruit
- Fried plantains
- Beverages: Coffee, horchata (made from rice and milk and seasoned with cinnamon), Pipa fria (coconut water)
Fun Fact:
Gallo pinto is an Afro-Caribbean influenced meal. It’s known as the national dish of Costa Rica and translates directly to “spotted rooster.”
England
On the Menu:
- Eggs (style by choice) alongside sausage, bacon, beans, mushrooms and tomatoes
- Hashbrown
- Toast
- Bangers and mash (of course) with a side of fried eggs
Fun Fact:
The full “British fry-up” isn’t too far off from a traditional American breakfast. However, different regions add different variations, like potato bread, hog’s pudding and laverbread. In fact, a typical “full English” breakfast has close to 1190 calories. Full tank.