Majority of people think breakfast foods taste better for dinner

Americans love breakfast so much that some would give up dinner over it, according to new research.

A recent poll asked 2,005 U.S. residents which they’d rather give up between traditional breakfast foods and dinner entrés, finding that people were more willing to abandon the latter (31%) than the former (25%).

When reaching for breakfast foods, half (48%) said they prefer a mix of both sweet and savory options, while 23% tended towards the former and 22% toward the latter.

Eggs (42%) topped the list of most popular dishes, followed by omelets (37%) and then pancakes (36%).

Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Happy Egg, the poll also asked about the best time to eat traditional American breakfast foods like fried eggs, waffles, cereal or bagels.

Sixty-five percent of respondents said that breakfast foods taste better for dinner, or “brinner,” while two-thirds (65%) admitted to making dinner leftovers into their next-day breakfast.

However, 61% still eat breakfast foods most frequently in the morning, and more than three in five eat breakfast every day of the week.

Monday ranked as the biggest day for breakfast-eating (39%), while Sunday (27%) came in as the least likely day.

“We all know that mornings can be rushed, especially as we get back into a post-pandemic routine,” said Whitney Fortin, Director of New Product Development at Happy Egg. “Most of us eat carb-heavy foods with simple sugars, that digest quickly — then, later in the day, we hit an energy slump and resort to snacking on more carbs or more calories than we realize.”

Almost one-third of those polled described their breakfast cooking skills as “quick and efficient,” but another one in five (18%) believe they are “Master Chef material.”

Regardless of skill, when asked who makes the best breakfast, 34% named themselves.

And when asked which one breakfast food they’d be willing to eat for the rest of their lives, respondents chose pancakes (11%), French toast (10%) and eggs (10%).

However, almost seven in 10 (68%) admitted that they already tend to stick with the same breakfast each day.

“Starting with a food that contains both protein and fat ensures a great start to the day, and will keep you full throughout the morning,” said Fortin. “Whether we’re sticking with the same thing every day, or experimenting with different tastes and flavors for breakfast, one thing remains important: making sure we start the day off right with quality nutrients to ensure we stay satisfied and energetic throughout the day.”

TOP 7 FAVORITE BREAKFAST SIDES

• Coffee - 41%
• Sausage or bacon - 35%
• Milk - 33%
• Toast - 32%
• Orange juice - 31%
• Fried or scrambled eggs - 31%
• Fruit - 31%