In many places in the United States, it's very common for people to eat a large breakfast when they wake up in the morning, before going to work or school. It is even common for people to say "breakfast is the most important meal of they day".
Like many Americans, I love "breakfast foods" - foods that are traditionally eaten in the morning, at breakfast time.
There are a few traditional foods that are considered standard breakfast foods across most of the United States:
1. Eggs
Eggs are a popular breakfast food because they contain a good amount of protein, and are widely considered a healthy food. People like to have protein for breakfast to give them energy to start the day.
Two of the most common ways to prepare eggs for breakfast are scrambled,
Scrambled eggs
and fried. Fried eggs are also sometimes called "sunny-side up", because the yellow yolk in the middle looks like the sun.
Fried eggs
2. Bacon or sausage
Just like with eggs, many people like to have meat at breakfast time, as it is also a source of protein. Two popular breakfast meat choices are bacon, and sausages.
Bacon cooking
Many people prefer crispy bacon.
Breakfast sausages
3. Toast or a pastry
Many traditional breakfasts in the United States also have some kind of bread or pastry. The bread may be toasted, with butter or margarine and could also have jam or marmalade.
This part of the breakfast may look familiar! I have had breakfasts in Madrid that had toast with jam or olive oil.
Other popular choices for a breakfast pastry could be English muffins, or croissants.
4. Potatoes
Breakfast potatoes are another common part of traditional American breakfasts. Potatoes are often cut into small cubes, and then cooked in a pan or skillet on the stove.
The potatoes may also be shredded or grated, before being cooked. They may even be formed into shapes (these are called "hash browns").
Breakfast potatoes are one of my favorite parts of a traditional American breakfast. I love potatoes for any meal of the day - not just breakfast!
"Southern" breakfasts
In addition to these "standard" foods, there are some breakfast foods (or combinations of foods) that are more common in certain states or regions of the United States.
I grew up in Florida and went to Auburn University in Alabama, both states within the Southeast region of the U.S. This region, often simply called "The South", has some typical foods that are less common in certain other areas of the country, including some breakfast foods.
"Southern" breakfasts frequently include biscuits, in place of toast or pastries.
I LOVE having biscuits with my breakfast; in my opinion the best biscuits are flaky, with many layers, and they usually have a slight buttery flavor.
One common way to serve breakfast biscuits is also with butter or jam, OR with honey drizzled on top, or spread in between the layers.
One VERY popular Southern breakfast dish is biscuits and gravy
The white gravy, also called sausage gravy, is usually made by cooking pork sausage in a pan on the stove. The cooked sausage is removed from the pan, then flour is mixed in with the sausage fat left in the pan (butter may also be added), and milk and spices are added to create a thick, creamy sauce. The cooked sausage is then added back to the sauce.
This gravy is then poured over the biscuits and served hot!
Sausage gravy
Another traditional Southern breakfast food is a side dish called grits.
Grits are made from boiled cornmeal. They are similar in texture to mashed potatoes or polenta. Grits have a relatively bland flavor, so they often have other ingredients added to them.
Grits can be made into a sweet or savory side dish, but savory is usually more popular for breakfast. One of the most common additions is cheese, to make cheese grits or "cheesy grits".
Cheese grits
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
Do you prefer to have a small breakfast or a large breakfast?
What time do you normally eat breakfast? While you are home from school, are you eating at a different time than you normally would?
Let me know what your opinion is of the foods Americans eat for breakfast!
Waffle House - American restaurant
There is a well-known restaurant chain in the United States called Waffle House that serves some of these popular breakfast foods. Waffle House is especially popular in some college towns, because the food is cheap and the restaurants are usually open late, often all night.
Based on the name, what is one type of food you think they serve?
Waffle House serves waffles!
Look at the Waffle House menu below and then answer the questions that follow!
1. What is included in the "All Star Special"? List all the foods.
2. Look at the Eggs section. What is served with the "Cheese 'N Eggs"?
3. What are "hash browns" made of?
4. If I want "DICED" hash browns, what extra ingredient do I want?
5. What do "CAPPED" hash browns come with?
6. If I order hash browns "SMOTHERED" and "COVERED", what extras do I want with my hash browns?
7. How many calories (Cals) are in a Pecan WAFFLE?
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