By the title of this article, you probably think you’re about to read some controversial take on the most well-known concept to ever exist. Well, let me tell you — you’re exactly right.
I will start off by saying that I fully understand what breakfast is and the reason why it’s deemed the most important meal of the day by most health professionals you meet. Considering the official definition is “a meal eaten in the morning,” alternatively defined as “the first meal of the day,” I view it as a very essential part of someone’s diet. In a way, it’s not necessarily the idea of breakfast more than it is the requirements that seem to go with it.
For instance, when one thinks of breakfast foods, the first thing that comes to mind is the classic eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, waffles etc.— you get the idea. Over time, we as a society have kind of just adopted these meals as being breakfast foods, but what does that even mean? I truly never understood how specific foods can be placed at a certain time frame of the day to which it is then acceptable to eat them. You’re probably thinking “Well, certain foods are recommended because it gives you a boost of energy in the morning, keeps you full and provides daily nutrients.” While some of that does hold truth, I think it’s also important to note that certain breakfast foods aren’t necessarily healthy and fail to hold nutritional value. For example, pancakes.
Obviously, variations of this food can be made, but for the most part, pancakes are composed of buttermilk, eggs, sugar and artificial sweeteners, along with other ingredients. The kicker for this meal, however, is the syrup. Loads of syrup, which is the equivalent of raw sugar in my eyes, will recklessly be dumped on pancakes. Yet, nobody questions its presence as a breakfast food. With all these attributes, to me, there is no difference between pancakes and regular cake. However, only one is seen as odd when consumed in the morning. Quick note: I think we’re all guilty of pouring an embarrassing amount of syrup onto our pancakes from time to time, so this isn’t to harp on anyone, just putting things in perspective.
Viewing breakfast foods as a social construct is a hill I will die on, considering I once got ridiculed for drinking apple juice at 2 a.m. It shouldn’t be weird to want or crave certain foods that aren’t historically a morning meal.
The judgment society has placed on what people eat for breakfast is slowly starting to fade, but remains very prevalent. Concepts like “breakfast for dinner” have been around for years, but simply eating steak and potatoes at 8 a.m. could send people into a frenzy. To me, food is food, and everyone should be able to eat whatever they want, whenever they want, without feeling judged. If the opportunity presented itself, I would not hesitate to scarf down a cookie at 10 a.m.
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