# no vegetables for breakfast-- why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 17, 2017, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-vegetables-for-breakfast-why/789203 "2017-06-17T14:53:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sbunny8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@sbunny8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sbunny8)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-vegetables-for-breakfast-why/789203/1 "2017-06-17T14:53:44Z")
Why is it that you rarely see broccoli, or other vegetables, at breakfast? I’ve seen people eat salads for lunch or for dinner, never at breakfast. Exceptions are rare: sometimes you’ll see a quiche or an omelette with a few chopped veggies in it. But we have fruit, nuts, cheese, pretty much anything except vegetables. Is this just an American thing? Why do our breakfasts consist so heavily of carbohydrates, sugar, fat, and protein, while veggies are pushed away to lunch and dinner? Is there a biological reason for not wanting veggies right after you wake up? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-vegetables-for-breakfast-why/789203/2 "2017-06-17T15:04:02Z")
In the British Isles, you’ll sometimes see baked beans and/or a sliced tomato at breakfast. The focus still seems to be on protein and fat, though. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-vegetables-for-breakfast-why/789203/3 "2017-06-17T15:07:57Z")
American style breakfasts are derived from [English and Irish breakfasts](http://www.seriouseats.com/2012/08/guide-to-a-fry-up-full-british-breakfast-what-is-in-ingredients.html). They are heavy on meat, eggs, sugar and grains. However, that is not universal. Most cultures don’t have unique breakfast foods. It is the same food that you eat any other time of the day and often just leftovers. There is no reason for it other than cultural traditions. Some people, including me, do eat vegetables for breakfast. I have to dispute the premise a little too. Hashbrowns are a traditional American breakfast food and they are made from potatoes. Fruits are popular as are things like V-8 juice. Are you only including things like fresh leafy vegetables? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-vegetables-for-breakfast-why/789203/4 "2017-06-17T15:09:20Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > In the British Isles, you’ll sometimes see baked beans and/or a sliced tomato at breakfast. The focus still seems to be on protein and fat, though. [Dope pedant]Tomato is a fruit. Specifically, a berry.[/Dope pedant] 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-vegetables-for-breakfast-why/789203/5 "2017-06-17T15:13:13Z")
Fruit, nuts and cereal were vegetables last time I checked. That aside, you’ve been asleep for hours, and wake up on an empty stomache. To break your fast you want something you can eat straight away, and get the energy from it immediately. You don’t want to be bothered boiling some potatoes, and then having to wait as they slowly digest. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-vegetables-for-breakfast-why/789203/6 "2017-06-17T15:32:20Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **running coach** : > > [Dope pedant]Tomato is a fruit. Specifically, a berry.[/Dope pedant] Of course a tomato is a fruit. Did I say it wasn’t? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-vegetables-for-breakfast-why/789203/7 "2017-06-17T15:35:34Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Of course a tomato is a fruit. Did I say it wasn’t? Wasn’t sure. Besides, pedants don’t care. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-vegetables-for-breakfast-why/789203/8 "2017-06-17T16:03:48Z")
A traditional [Israeli breakfast](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_breakfast#Characteristics_and_typical_dishes) has plenty of vegetables. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-vegetables-for-breakfast-why/789203/9 "2017-06-17T16:13:20Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Of course a tomato is a fruit. Did I say it wasn’t? So is ketchup. Wait, no sorry, it’s a vegetable. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-vegetables-for-breakfast-why/789203/10 "2017-06-17T16:14:28Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Fruit, nuts and cereal were vegetables last time I checked. > That aside, you’ve been asleep for hours, and wake up on an empty stomache. To break your fast you want something you can eat straight away, and get the energy from it immediately. You don’t want to be bothered boiling some potatoes, and then having to wait as they slowly digest. And yet potatoes are a common component in American breakfasts. We boil water for coffee, we boil oats, we boil eggs. Not seeing a huge impediment here, especially since potatoes can be left-overs (e.g., potato cakes from mashed potatoes). In Japan, a common breakfast will have some rice and some pickled vegetables. Also some seaweed and fish. One favorite dish is to take a small bowl of rice and crack an egg into it, letting the heat of the rice cook the egg. ---
**Author:** ![igor\_frankensteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/839c29/32.png) [@igor\_frankensteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/igor_frankensteen)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-vegetables-for-breakfast-why/789203/11 "2017-06-17T16:24:31Z")
It would depend on the vegetables for me. Some would guarantee socially untoward gaseous emissions by midday, and I suspect my wages would fall accordingly. All in all, though, I’ve never seen that humans have been all that guided by science, when it comes to customs. And the idea that certain foods are that much better for a person being widespread, is a very recent phenomenon, which is still fairly controversial. My guess, would be that it’s cultural, and that each cultural decision is based on the history of the locally common foodstuffs. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-vegetables-for-breakfast-why/789203/12 "2017-06-17T16:29:00Z")
**Peter Morris** , fruits, nuts, and cereals are–by definition–NOT vegetables. The “vegetable” part of a plant excludes the reproductive and seed parts. Leaves, stems, roots–those are vegetables. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-vegetables-for-breakfast-why/789203/13 "2017-06-17T16:31:49Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > A traditional [Israeli breakfast](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_breakfast#Characteristics_and_typical_dishes) has plenty of vegetables. "The Israeli breakfast never includes meats such as ham and bacon, " :smack: NO SHIT? Of course, it goes on to explain why, but seriously, that is dumb. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-vegetables-for-breakfast-why/789203/14 "2017-06-17T16:43:52Z")
Your basic British breakfast of EBCB is half vegetables. So was my breakfast this morning\*. What more do you want? - - I’m counting the V-8 juice and the celery spear as vegetables, ok? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-vegetables-for-breakfast-why/789203/15 "2017-06-17T16:49:38Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > **Peter Morris** , fruits, nuts, and cereals are–by definition–NOT vegetables. The “vegetable” part of a plant excludes the reproductive and seed parts. Leaves, stems, roots–those are vegetables. Which definition is that? > **[Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/vegetable)** > > The world's leading online dictionary: English definitions, synonyms, word origins, example sentences, word games, and more. A trusted authority for 25+ years! > [@](#): > > vegetable > > noun > > 1. any plant whose fruit, seeds, roots, tubers, bulbs, stems, leaves, or flower parts are used as food, as the tomato, bean, beet, potato, onion, asparagus, spinach, or cauliflower. > > 2. the edible part of such a plant, as the tuber of the potato. > > 3. any member of the vegetable kingdom; plant. Fruit, nuts and cereals are “the edible part of such a plant” aren’t they? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-vegetables-for-breakfast-why/789203/16 "2017-06-17T16:51:53Z")
> [@sbunny8](#): > > Why is it that you rarely see broccoli, or other vegetables, at breakfast? I’ve seen people eat salads for lunch or for dinner, never at breakfast. Exceptions are rare: sometimes you’ll see a quiche or an omelette with a few chopped veggies in it. But we have fruit, nuts, cheese, pretty much anything except vegetables. Is this just an American thing? > > Why do our breakfasts consist so heavily of carbohydrates, sugar, fat, and protein, while veggies are pushed away to lunch and dinner? Is there a biological reason for not wanting veggies right after you wake up? My Wifes ‘go to’ breakfast at a restaurant is always some sort of ‘vegi scramble’ that is on the menu. She often asks for extra broccoli. It’s a common choice on the menu in Colorado. I’m never that good, and often ask about the corned beef hash (when available). ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-vegetables-for-breakfast-why/789203/17 "2017-06-17T16:51:56Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > **Peter Morris** , fruits, nuts, and cereals are–by definition–NOT vegetables. The “vegetable” part of a plant excludes the reproductive and seed parts. Leaves, stems, roots–those are vegetables. This is a discussion about food items, not biology. And according to the US Supreme Court, the [tomato is a vegetable, not fruit.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nix_v._Hedden) ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-vegetables-for-breakfast-why/789203/18 "2017-06-17T16:52:51Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > **Peter Morris** , fruits, nuts, and cereals are–by definition–NOT vegetables. The “vegetable” part of a plant excludes the reproductive and seed parts. Leaves, stems, roots–those are vegetables. So tomatoes are not a vegetable. Neither are cucumbers. Nor bell peppers, squashes, and green beans. ---
**Author:** ![sbunny8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@sbunny8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sbunny8)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-vegetables-for-breakfast-why/789203/19 "2017-06-17T17:09:41Z")
Could we please avoid an argument about what constitutes a “vegetable”? I specifically mentioned broccoli and salads as examples. I’ll admit that I hadn’t thought about potatoes. As for beans, why is it always baked beans and never green beans? The point is, there is an entire category of foods which you commonly see at lunch and dinner but never (or almost never) see at breakfast. I doubt that anyone here disputes that this category exists. Let’s not get hung up on whether the word “vegetables” accurately describes the category. So why does this category exist? Is it purely cultural or is there a biological reason for it? I have NEVER seen anyone eat a salad for breakfast. Ditto for broccoli, green beans, cauliflower, carrots, corn on the cob, or cucumber. I have RARELY seen anyone eat zucchini for breakfast, but on those few occasions I’ve seen it, the zucchini was always always always in an omelette or a quiche. I have COMMONLY seen grits or hash browns at breakfast, but NEVER corn on the cob or mashed potatoes or baked potatoes. If I see someone eating waffles or an omlette for dinner, I think “gee, that’s fun”. But if I saw someone eating a baked potato and a Caesar salad for breakfast, I’d suspect this person was mentally ill. Imagine a person walks into McDonald’s at 9:30 am and orders an Egg McMuffin and then asks for lettuce and pickles on it. To me, that sounds insane. Why? What’s so crazy about putting lettuce onto a sandwich at 9:30 am when I wouldn’t blink twice about putting lettuce and pickles onto a sandwich at 11:30 am? I’m inclined to think that, after sleeping, you want to kickstart your metabolism with food that digests quickly. But that’s just a WAG on my part. What’s the straight dope? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-vegetables-for-breakfast-why/789203/20 "2017-06-17T17:55:35Z")
Zucchini for breakfast would also not be out of place in the form of zucchini bread. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-vegetables-for-breakfast-why/789203.md?page=2)