The Big Breakfast Day is on February 27th, 2024!

In the 1800s breakfast was social and was frequently shared with family members or guests. What people had for breakfast depended largely on their economic status. Due to restricted resources and time limitations, the working class often ate a more simple breakfast. Bread, butter, and tea were most popular, occasionally supplemented with leftovers from the previous day's meal. Breakfast in rural agricultural settings was usually made up of things like bacon, eggs, sausage, oatmeal, johnny cakes, and potatoes. This gave the required nourishment for a day of labor.  Only the very wealthy had large luxurious breakfasts that included things such as cold meats, fish, eggs, bread, and pastries. Today with our modern conveniences it's unlikely that making a big breakfast would take an hour at most, and that's if you were waiting on something to bake. Back then, making a big breakfast included things like making the fire and getting it to the right temperature, gathering eggs, making and cooking bread, and churning butter.

Recipe for Johnny Cakes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup yellow cornmeal

• 1 cup boiling water

• 1/2 cup milk

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

• Mix the salt and cornmeal. Then, add the boiling water and stir until mixed well

• Stir in the milk

• Add teaspoons of batter to a greased skillet on medium to medium-low heat.

• Cook until golden brown. (approximately 4-5 minutes per side)

• Serve hot with butter and/or maple syrup

What can eating a big breakfast do for you?

• It kickstarts your metabolism.

• It boosts your cognitive function and mental performance by supplying important nutrients such as carbs, protein, and healthy fats.

• It supplies your body with enough energy to start the day.

Ways to enjoy The Big Breakfast Day

• If you don't have time to do a big breakfast, have a big breakfast for dinner!

• Have your family all participate in making a big breakfast together.

• Try a new breakfast item like crepes, or try a new twist on a breakfast item like a new kind of smoothie, a new flavor of pancake, or new ingredients in your eggs.

• Serve someone breakfast in bed.

• Invite a friend out for breakfast.

• Take breakfast to a friend or neighbor.

• Host a breakfast potluck.

• Learn what people in other countries eat for breakfast. (Did you know that people in Brazil have cake for breakfast?)

You could also try having a breakfast item for each meal of the day:

Ideas:

Breakfast:

cereal, bagel, donut, muffin, Danish, oatmeal, smoothie, toast with peanut butter, hard-boiled egg, yogurt & granola, fruit

Lunch:

breakfast burrito, egg sandwich, egg quiche, yogurt & fruit, smoothie

Dinner

pancakes, French toast, Waffles, Omelets, breakfast bowls or skillets, breakfast pizza, egg casserole, biscuits & gravy

---

Try this easy breakfast recipe out with your family

Homemade Granola

Ingredients:

• 3 cups old-fashioned oats

• 1 cup nuts (such as almonds, walnuts, or pecans), chopped

• 1/2 cup honey - 1/4 cup melted coconut oil

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1 cup dried fruits (such as raisins, cranberries, or apricots), chopped

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 325°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

• In a large bowl, combine the oats and chopped nuts.

• In a separate bowl, whisk together the honey, melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt.

• Pour the honey mixture over the oats and nuts, and toss until well coated.

• Spread the mixture evenly onto the prepared baking sheet.

• Bake for 20-25 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until golden brown.

• Remove from the oven and let cool completely.

• Stir in the dried fruits.

• Store in an airtight container.