Yesterday was grocery day which means it was also clean out the fridge day. Since the time change has screwed up my internal clock and I’ve already had four other ridiculously early mornings this week, I saw no reason to break my streak. So I got up early to do this and a few other things before heading into work.
There were bits and pieces of leftovers from meals and snacks so I decided to make this my breakfast. A few roasted potatoes, a serving of steamed broccoli, some delicious tuna noodle casserole and one lonely boiled egg made for an unusual combination but a tasty one that meant there would be no prepared food headed to the trash can this time.
I have long been flexible about meals and the idea of viewing certain foods as “breakfast foods” versus food for other times of the day isn’t really my thing. Yet, I had a conversation earlier this week where there was one very nice person who acted like eating breakfast for dinner was an alien and unacceptable concept. She was adamant that eggs and pancakes are breakfast foods and not to be seen any other time of day.
I was perplexed because there are plenty of nights I literally wouldn’t eat if not for a humble plate of scrambled eggs and fruit.
You know me – down the rabbit hole I went.
The people who tell us that breakfast should consist of Cheerios, eggs and Pop Tarts are the same people trying to sell us Cheerios, eggs and Pop Tarts. They have spent decades paying smart, rich marketing people to sell us a bill of goods. What did people eat before they had Kellogg telling us what to eat?
They ate what they had and when they wanted.
Honestly, most common American breakfast foods are heavily processed and packed full of sugar, artificial colors and preservatives that keep us craving more sugar and junk for the entire rest of the day. They’re not good for you at all. Check out the sugar content of most popular yogurt brands and tell me they shouldn’t be dessert rather than a meal.
But I digress.
Breakfast for dinner is always a good idea. Leftovers for breakfast is a great idea too.
That whole conversation was a little unsettling because it made me think about how limiting it is to be so set in our own ways. It’s a trap most of us can fall into but flexibility and a willingness to think outside the box are keys to happiness. Trying new things ranks high on that list too.
Whether it’s an egg sandwich for dinner, broccoli for breakfast or some outlandish thing you think you don’t want to try, maybe it’s time to loosen up and give it a chance. After all, what’s the harm?
