Thursday, October 18, 2012

Second Breakfast? Sounds Like Heresy to Me

I ran into an interesting phenomenon in Europe known as second breakfast. I still don't quite understand it. After all, while I generally stick to cereal for breakfast, most people I know consider coffee or a pop tart to be sufficient. And, some college students are fine with an un-toasted, frozen waffle and a Mountain Dew. Ahhhh, the breakfast of champions.

There are special occasions when a significant other may make eggs, sausage, pancakes, or even crepes (if they're feeling fancy) for breakfast. But, otherwise breakfast doesn't get much attention or acclaim. I was amazed to discover that Europeans seem to love breakfast enough to have it twice. Especially since they don't eat the same things for breakfast that I do. I don't consider tomatoes, cold sandwich meats, and cucumbers to be breakfast food. To me, that sounds like it's time for a picnic.

The idea of second breakfast caused me to raise a few questions. If you have breakfast twice, when do you eat lunch? Is it like an afternoon snack? Then what happens to dinner? Am I going to be eating at midnight?

So many questions. Oh nooooooooooooooooooooooo! It's absolutely overwhelming!

As most people are visual, I decided to explain this with a graph. I apologize that it is informal. I can just imagine past science teachers criticizing me for the lack of units. Hopefully none of you are grading me.

In case you don't remember anything about how to read graphs, I'll explain. First and second breakfasts occur at approximately 7 and 11 am, respectively. Lunch is around 2 or 3 in the afternoon and is the biggest meal of the day. Dinner is around 8 pm.

Remember this if you're ever looking for a restaurant. I ran into issues that some don't even open their kitchens until after 1. As I don't eat two breakfasts, I was frickin' hungry at noon and no one would feed me! And if you're looking to beat the crowds, eat dinner at 6. No one is going to be there so you can be as awkwardly American as you'd like. The waiters may even speak in their native languages so as not to bother you (wink wink). More like make sure you can't understand them insulting your habits.

Until next time, God bless America.

8 comments:

  1. I have a friend who's an electrician, and he starts work at like five in the morning so he has first breakfast then and second breakfast at around 9am. I've always been incredibly jealous of him ... I love breakfast. Two breakfasts would be awesome!

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    1. That does seem like a good reason for two breakfasts. I'm just not sure it'd work for me because the second breakfast seems to occur while at work/school/etc. And, I'd have issues with my breakfast's portability.

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  2. I went to Italy for a conference once, and the biggest meal of the day was definitely dinner--we got there around 8 and they didn't let us leave until almost midnight after force-feeding us about 17 courses. I was convinced the conference was a cover for preparing us for the slaughter--maybe to make good material for second breakfast...

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    1. At least you made it out alright. I ran into a similar problem in Poland. We ate large dinners because the company we were visiting kept wanting to take us out to dinner. They forced massive amounts of schnitzel, potatoes, and beer upon us. They did seem rather offended if you wanted water instead of beer. I wondered what plot was afoot...

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  3. Hey Carrie!! I am a new follower from the Friendly Friday blog hop!

    I ran into this same phenomenon in India!!! They have 2 breakfast meals as well and then don't eat dinner until 9pm! Since I generally go to bed around 10pm, I thought it was incredibly strange to go to bed half an hour after I finished my dinner.

    In India, the first breakfast is typically tea and biscuits (their biscuits are our cookies) and then the second breakfast is more traditional - eggs, cold oatmeal, and fruit. But I've been to other places in Asia where the breakfast is similar to what you describe - cold cuts of meat, cheeses, and other "picnic" type food. That is one thing I love about traveling - you never know what to expect!

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    1. It really threw me off too. I generally eat dinner around 6 and was definitely confused.

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  4. This sounds glorious... I love bacon. I'll have that for first and second breakfast please! They really are like Hobbits out there!

    Hugs!

    Valerie

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    1. So true. I'd definitely be on-board if both breakfasts included bacon.

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