Henrick Bloemaert, Woman Selling Eggs, 1632. Or…me deciding what kind of egg I’m cooking for breakfast!

Confession. I love breakfast. I love it more than lunch or dinner. Now, don’t get me wrong. Roast chicken and mashed potatoes for dinner make me very happy. Egg salad and dill pickles for lunch? Bring it on! But when it comes down to my favorite meal of the day? Breakfast wins with all of its weird wonder. Which is why you really need to write about your breakfast!

The word breakfast holds the secret. In the 15th century English language, break-the-fast was the first meal you had after sleeping all night. Before that? The first meal of the day was called morgenmete: Old Englishe for morning meal.

Imagine groggily walking into the kitchen and saying, “I need some morgenmete!”

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Every culture in the world has some form of delicious breakfast

Because hey, we all have to eat!

In Paris, the Parisians walk down the street with fresh baguettes tucked under their arms. They’ve already sneakily ripped le quignon (the heel) off to nibble before they get home to have a petit dejeuner with coffee/tea, croissants, butter and jam.

In the Philippines, breakfast is called silog, and my Filipino friend has promised to make me her favorite breakfast: fried garlic rice (sinangag) with a fried egg on top. I can’t wait!

In Mexico, breakfast is called desayuno, and there are many lovely dishes. But the most common desayuno has eggs, beans, salsa, and tortillas. Some of the most delicious breakfasts I’ve ever eaten were in Mexico.

And then there’s me. A Canadian farm kid from the prairies.

I grew up with the basics, but I was a fussy eater. Now, my parents are gobsmacked at the breakfasts I’ve eaten: a dozen raw oysters with lemon; a smoked kipper in Scotland with its eyeball looking at me from my plate; and dishes like the Middle Eastern shakshuka (a heavenly concoction of simmered tomatoes, onions, garlic, spices and softly poached eggs.)

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Listen. I love toast with butter and fancy or homemade jam. And sure, a bowl of Shreddies will do in a pinch. Greek yogurt and fruit are one of my go-to breakfasts before I dive into writing and editing.

But where does my heart really lie? It lies in a nest of eggs. Eggs Benedict with homemade hollandaise on a Friday morning with friends at our favorite diner. Or gently scrambled clouds of eggs cooked slowly in a small pan like how I learned in France. On a weekend I’ll add a little bit of sour cream and black caviar on the top (put down those raised eyebrows. Try it!) Or I’ll make braised eggs (a faster method than poached) and slide them onto a bed of spicy avocado toast.

I grew up with the basics but I was a fussy eater. Now, my parents are gobsmacked at the breakfasts I’ve eaten: a dozen raw oysters with lemon; a smoked kipper in Scotland with its eyeball looking at me from my plate; and dishes like the Middle Eastern shakshuka (a heavenly concoction of simmered tomatoes, onions, garlic, spices and softly poached eggs.)

And then how to take your breakfast to a whole new level?

You add some classical music or NPR, a good book propped on the table, sun shining through the window, and a werewolf lying at your feet because he’s secretly sending you ESP messages to, “Leave some for me! “

Oh, breakfast! You really are one of my happy meals.

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Now It’s Your Turn

What’s your favorite breakfast?

What did you love to eat as a kid? Were you like my sister who couldn’t wait to have cold pizza or pasta? (I still can’t do that. lol.)

Remember. You don’t have to write about fancy or complicated things. You can write about something as simple as breakfast.

And you’ll discover the writing will feed you too.

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*Did you love this? Then check out Scribbly – my quirky and gentle writing program that we snail-mail right to your home. Each issue has a theme, so all you have to do is follow the path! We make writing easy and fun for you. We’re nice like that.