Breakfast: origin, importance and benefits

The term breakfast only appeared at the beginning of the 20th century. In fact, breakfast is an inaugural moment of the day, so much so that it symbolizes the repetition of daily life. Although it is strongly anchored in Western habits, it is not without a history. Here is what you need to know about breakfast.

What is the origin of breakfast ?

The widespread idea that breakfast is the most important meal of the day first appeared in the early 20th century. However, this idea did not come out of nowhere. Eating breakfast regularly does not mean that our eating habits are healthy. To learn more about balanced breakfasts, consider visiting this site. 

The idea of breakfast was born with a change in eating habits at the turn of the 20th century, when Western countries were in the midst of the industrial revolution. In the morning, people ate what was left in the pantry or what was left over from the previous day's dinner. It was only gradually that breakfast became the snack we know today, organized around a hot drink, toast or cereal products.

What is the importance of breakfast ?

Breakfast is known to be the most important meal of the day, as it follows a fasting period of 8 to 12 hours (at night). It must therefore be sufficiently hearty to meet our energy needs for the day and give us the strength to last until lunch. Thus, the absence of breakfast can manifest itself by a state of fatigue or concentration problems, as we will see in the following point. Eating breakfast gives us the strength we need to attack the morning, enabling us to think clearly, learn and work.

What are the benefits of breakfast ?

Some people claim that skipping breakfast can lead to weight loss. Not so. Breakfast provides energy to the muscles and brain. It provides the body with the nutrients it needs to perform its daily tasks, whether mental or physical. To this end, a good breakfast provides nutrients that are important for our health (proteins, minerals, trace elements, vitamins, fiber). 

To this end, people who eat breakfast have been found to be more physically active than those who do not. The benefits of a good breakfast are therefore numerous. Many people neglect to eat breakfast because of a lack of time or because they are not hungry. However, this meal is essential to start the day well, especially for growing children. If you want to lose weight, it is therefore strongly advised not to skip breakfast.