What do people eat for breakfast in the South? The purpose of this study was to determine whether breakfast has changed in the past forty years in Northwest Florida. A sample population of 28 individuals who have lived in the South were surveyed about their breakfasts. The sample population was divided into three age groups: ages 15-25, 26-45, and 46+. We examined breakfast patterns for each age group studying food preparation, eating preferences, and eating habits. The hypothesis of the study was that there would be distinct eating habits of each group. Our findings support this hypothesis.

The youngest age group (15-25) was asked what they eat, what they want to eat, how their food is prepared, and how their meal is consumed. This age category gave a glimpse into the breakfast of the youth in today's southern society. The younger generation eats lots of dry cereal with milk. They also consume many sweets such as danish, donuts, and Swiss Cake Rolls. Many non-conventional food items are also part of their breakfast and include steak, Hot Pockets, and Beef Jerky. The youth drink soda, coffee, and a little juice. The study shows that milk and cereal are by far the most consumed breakfast foods. The foods the younger group want to eat differ considerably from what they actually eat. They desire to have eggs, juice, fresh fruit, steak, and pancakes for breakfast.

This generation's food is generally bought from the store. They fix their own breakfast. Time plays a major role in the preparation of the meal. They eat foods that are processed and fast and easy to prepare. The foods they want for breakfast require longer preparation and cooking times.

The research shows that most young people do eat breakfast every day. Their first meal is usually consumed around 6:30 a.m. Members in this age category eat primarily at home, alone, and in front of the T.V.

The second age group (26-45) was approached in the same manner as the younger group. In addition, they were asked to recall breakfast when they were between the ages of 15 and 25. When this population was young, the bulk of their breakfast consisted of eggs, bacon, and cereal. They also ate sausages and hoe cake and drank juice. The mother cooked the meal at home. They usually ate at 7:00 a.m. with their family. Weekends were reserved for special breakfast items such as pancakes and waffles.

At present, this generation's breakfast is coffee and juice. Most food items that are eaten are from fast food restaurants. The study revealed that many members of this group do not eat breakfast. When asked what their ideal breakfast would be, the respondents said they wanted eggs, bacon, biscuits, fresh fruit, and juice.

If the people in this age category cook breakfast at all, they cook it for themselves. Their breakfast is fast and even faster than that of the youth of today. They don't usually prepare foods at home; they usually eat out.

This generation's breakfast habit seems to be grabbing a bite while getting ready for work or on their way to work. Breakfast takes place for the middle age group between 7:00 and 11:00 a.m.

Members of the last category (46+) provided the most different views of breakfast in Northwest Florida. When this group was between the ages of 15 and 25, they consumed eggs, bacon, biscuits, milk, coffee, cereal, and grits. They also ate fresh fruits, pork chops, ham, fish, tomato gravy, and sopping cocoa. When they were young, their families had the resources on hand to get breakfast foods. Some of their families raised pigs for slaughter and stored meat in their smokehouse. Their families also raised chickens and gathered fresh eggs. When supplies on hand ran low, these families relied on local grocers and markets for meats and other goods. Some members in the 46+ age category milked cows, made molasses, jams, and jellies, and churned their own butter. Living in Florida enabled some families to fish for breakfast and to drink fresh squeezed juice. Their mother always cooked breakfast at home, usually between 5:00 and 7:00 a.m. They ate with their family and had the same breakfast each day looking forward to the weekend when mom would cook a special breakfast.

When this generation was between the ages of 26 and 45, they ate eggs, bacon, toast, and drank coffee. The wives cooked. Most ate every day at home around 7:00 a.m. with their family. Some ate a couple of times a week and by themselves.

Currently this age population (46+) consumes lots of coffee, more than any other group. They mostly eat eggs, bacon, biscuits, and orange juice. In response to what they want their perfect breakfast to be, the most common foods were eggs, bacon, biscuits, juice, coffee, fresh fruit, ham, grits, and cat's eye biscuits. This group tends to eat the breakfast they want.

The wife cooks or the person cooks for themself. They usually eat between nine and ten o'clock in the morning at home. Members in this age group eat every day either with their spouse or alone. There are some, though, who do not eat breakfast.

Breakfast is definitely different for these three groups and seems to have gradually changed over the years. Research shows that each group eats a different type of breakfast. Most youth consume breakfast alone watching television and eating sweet, non-conventional foods. They eat a lot of cereal and milk. Their meal is less time-consuming and is convenient to prepare.

Most people in the middle age group drink coffee or juice. Most do no eat breakfast at all. This seems to be in stark contrast with the other two groups. Breakfast, time, and work are all associated in the 26-45 age range. Their breakfast has changed drastically since they were young. In their early years, they ate eggs, bacon, and cereal. The preparation of foods took longer and that allowed them to spend time with their families. It also provided a healthier meal than what they are currently eating.

The oldest generation seems to be the group that is most stable. This mature group has a breakfast rooted in tradition. Their early years were spent raising animals and crops for breakfast. While today they more often shop at the grocery store, they buy the items that they used to raise at home. They have continued throughout the years to eat virtually the same breakfast.

All three groups want a healthier, time-consuming breakfast, however, the only sample population that seems to be getting it is the 46+ age group. The middle age category seems to want the breakfast they had when they were young, but do not take the time to prepare it. We believe this may be because of economical considerations and time constraints as well as cultural changes that have shaped the South over the past three generations. The cultural change that may have had the most impact was the shift from an agricultural society to an industrialized one. These changes probably have the most profound effect on the younger age group. They want a larger, healthier, more time-consuming breakfast, but hardly ever get that type of traditional meal. As they grow older will they have the opportunity to have a traditional, home-cooked breakfast or will they start a new breakfast tradition in Northwest Florida?

Our findings show that there are distinct changes in breakfast for the three generations studied. More research needs to be done with more empirical observations and in depth, anthropological analysis to establish the subtle cultural changes in southern food.

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