(BPT) – Moms across the country agree: breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. And, while some of the best breakfast foods will always be eternal, like pancakes and eggs, there is a significantly wider range of food choices and flavors for this morning meal than what our parents or grandparents enjoyed. Breakfast is evolving, and Americans love both new and traditional breakfast foods so much that they’re no longer willing to reserve them for just one meal of the day.
Take a bite out of these four hot breakfast trends:
Second breakfast
Many Americans enjoy breakfast foods so much, they’re not settling for just one breakfast a day anymore. A recent Wall Street Journal podcast noted more Americans are eating a “second breakfast.” Early risers may have something small and quick when they first get up, and follow it up with a more substantial breakfast mid-morning.
Breakfast anytime
Sixty-three percent of all restaurants now serve breakfast, according to market research organization Data Essential. The National Restaurant Association reports 72 percent of adults want restaurants to serve all-day breakfast. Another research group, Technomic, found that half of Americans say they enjoy eating breakfast at other times of day, not just in the morning.
IHOP Restaurants has been serving breakfast foods and beverages any time of day, every day since 1958. On Tuesday, July 18, 2017, the brand will celebrate its 59th year of business by offering guests a short stack of three original Buttermilk pancakes for just 59 cents from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at any of its more than 1,700 restaurants nationwide. Visit www.ihop.com to find a participating location.
Favorites continue to flourish
Breakfast lovers have always had their classic standbys of eggs, bacon, pancakes and toast — and restaurants continue to create innovative ways to blend timeless favorites with new flavors. For example, IHOP serves more than 700 million pancakes annually, introducing diners to a variety of flavors like Red Velvet, Cupcake and New York Cheesecake. And while the brand’s original Buttermilk pancakes may be its bestselling pancake flavor, the choice of syrups, including Old Fashioned, Butter Pecan, Strawberry and Blueberry, means guests can always customize and experiment with a breakfast-inspired meal.
Beyond burritos: Ethnic inspirations
Despite their enduring love for traditional breakfast foods, Americans continue to embrace new food experiences and take inspiration from cultures near and far. While the breakfast burrito has become a menu staple, the National Restaurant Association says more consumers are demanding ethnic breakfast offerings on restaurant menus. Whether you try a breakfast sausage from Poland, dosa (a type of savory crepe) from India, or rarebit (cheese toast) from Wales, breakfast has become an opportunity to explore cuisines of the world.
As American tastes continue to evolve, so does the world of breakfast. With new ways of enjoying the go-to favorites — whether with new unexpected flavors or times of day to dig in — there’s no doubt breakfast will continue to reign as the most important meal of the day.
