Who invented breakfast as the most important meal?

December 26, 2025 •

5 min read

Historically, the first meal of the day has not always been considered the most vital for adults, often being a small, quick affair or even skipped entirely until the Industrial Revolution reshaped eating habits. The widespread belief that 'breakfast is the most important meal of the day' is not a timeless nutritional fact but a myth with deliberate commercial roots, primarily crafted by shrewd marketers and health reformers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Quick Summary

The modern concept of breakfast as a crucial meal stems from late 19th and early 20th-century marketing campaigns, not established nutritional science. Figures like John Harvey Kellogg and public relations expert Edward Bernays promoted cereals and bacon, respectively, positioning breakfast foods as essential for health and productivity to drive sales.

Key Points

Not a nutritional fact: The idea that breakfast is the "most important meal of the day" was primarily a marketing creation, not a scientifically established truth.
John Harvey Kellogg's role: The Seventh-Day Adventist physician invented flaked cereal for his sanitarium patients and used marketing to promote it as a healthy, productive way to start the day.
Edward Bernays' influence: The PR pioneer successfully promoted bacon and eggs as a healthy, doctor-recommended breakfast in the 1920s to boost pork industry sales.
Industrial Revolution impact: The shift from agrarian to factory work created the demand for quick, convenient, and energizing morning meals, which cereals and other packaged foods filled.
Marketing shaped perception: These advertising campaigns created a cultural norm that linked breakfast to health, productivity, and moral righteousness, making people feel guilty about skipping it.
Modern nutritional view: While a balanced morning meal offers benefits like energy and nutrients, the idea of its singular importance is now viewed more critically, with focus on individual needs.

The Accidental Health Reformer: John Harvey Kellogg

Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, a physician and superintendent of the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Michigan during the late 19th century, was a pivotal figure in modern breakfast's invention. A devout Seventh-Day Adventist, he believed that bland, meatless foods promoted a more pure and abstinent lifestyle. To that end, he and his brother, Will Keith Kellogg, experimented with grains to create digestible foods for their patients. The accidental discovery of flaked cereal in 1894, after a batch of cooked wheat was left out and fermented, led to the creation of what is known as corn flakes. Kellogg heavily promoted his new cereals, advertising them as a healthy and convenient alternative to the heavy, meat-filled breakfasts common in that era.

The Cereal Wars and Slogans

After a split with his brother Will, who wanted to add sugar to make the cereal more palatable to the public, John Harvey Kellogg's marketing campaigns evolved. One of the most famous and enduring slogans, "Eat a Good Breakfast. Do a Better Job," was a prominent campaign in the early 20th century. This was not a scientific pronouncement but a deliberate marketing tactic designed to sell more cereal by framing breakfast as vital for productivity and success. This strategy effectively linked the consumption of cereal to the promise of a better, more efficient life, fundamentally changing public perception of the morning meal.

The Bacon and Eggs Deception: Edward Bernays

Another master of public manipulation who cemented the idea of breakfast's importance was Edward Bernays, often called the "father of public relations". In the 1920s, a struggling bacon industry hired Bernays to increase sales. His genius lay in manipulating public health discourse for commercial gain. Bernays contacted a physician and asked if a larger breakfast was healthier than a light one. He then gathered the signatures of 5,000 other doctors supporting the claim that a hearty breakfast, including bacon and eggs, was beneficial. The results were presented to newspapers and published as a scientific study, boosting bacon sales by repositioning it as a healthy, doctor-recommended breakfast food.

The Rise of the Cereal Industry and Convenience

The work of Kellogg, Bernays, and others solidified breakfast's place in modern culture, with the cereal industry flourishing as a result. As the workforce shifted from agrarian to industrial, people needed a quick, ready-to-eat morning meal. Cereals provided this convenience, and the relentless marketing campaigns ensured their place in millions of homes. This combination of health reform ideals and aggressive marketing created a new cultural norm, one where skipping breakfast was framed as a negative behavior.

The Historical and Marketing Timeline of Breakfast


Era	Traditional View of Morning Meal	Marketing Influence	Key Outcome
Ancient Times	Often a simple meal for laborers and the infirm; often skipped by others.	Minimal influence, dietary habits were determined by availability and labor.	Breakfast was not a culturally significant, universal meal for all.
Medieval Europe	Considered gluttonous and sinful to eat early; typically a light meal for children, the sick, or laborers.	Religious and social norms influenced eating patterns.	The morning meal held a low social status, associated with necessity rather than health.
19th Century	Industrialization led to heavier 'farmer's breakfasts' (bacon, eggs) to fuel hard labor.	Health reformers like Sylvester Graham and J.H. Kellogg promoted bland, vegetarian health foods.	Shift towards lighter, supposedly more digestible foods, especially in urban areas.
Early 20th Century	Cereal gained popularity as a convenient, modern option.	Kellogg's Slogans: Tied cereal to productivity and health.	Breakfast cereal cemented its place as a quick, healthy breakfast staple.
1920s	Bacon sales declined due to a preference for lighter meals.	Edward Bernays' PR: Manipulated public opinion to link bacon and eggs with health.	The hearty bacon and eggs breakfast was revived and culturally ingrained through powerful marketing.

Modern Perspectives on the Breakfast Myth

While the nutritional benefits of breakfast are still debated, many health experts and organizations promote a balanced morning meal for various reasons. However, the idea that breakfast is universally the 'most important' meal is now viewed more critically, especially with the rise of intermittent fasting and a greater understanding of individual nutritional needs. Many studies linking breakfast to better health outcomes, such as weight control or cognitive function, have been observational or funded by cereal companies, making a causal link difficult to prove conclusively. Ultimately, the emphasis should be on eating a nutritious, balanced meal when you are hungry, rather than blindly following a marketing slogan designed for profit.

The Modern Balance: Choosing a Healthy Breakfast

For those who choose to eat breakfast, focusing on a balance of macronutrients is key. A meal combining protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates provides sustained energy and satiety.

Examples of Balanced Breakfasts:

Protein-Packed: Scrambled eggs with vegetables and a slice of whole-wheat toast.
High-Fiber: Oatmeal topped with fresh fruit, nuts, and seeds.
On-the-Go: Greek yogurt with berries and a sprinkle of low-sugar granola.

This approach shifts the focus from simply consuming a meal because 'it's important' to making an intentional, nutritionally sound choice. The history of breakfast is a powerful reminder of how marketing can shape daily routines and perception of health.

Conclusion: The Power of Perception

No single individual can be credited with inventing breakfast, as the first meal of the day has existed throughout history in various forms. However, the idea of breakfast as the 'most important meal' is not a timeless truth but a concept heavily influenced by the marketing efforts of individuals like John Harvey Kellogg and Edward Bernays. Their successful campaigns, targeting health concerns and promoting convenience, fundamentally reshaped breakfast culture and consumer habits in the modern era. While eating a healthy breakfast can provide energy and nutrients, the belief in its singular importance is largely a legacy of brilliant, profit-driven advertising.

Frequently Asked Questions

The slogan was not created by the medical community for nutritional reasons. Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, a health reformer and physician, promoted the idea to sell his newly invented cereal, and later, PR expert Edward Bernays used fabricated medical endorsements to boost bacon sales.

John Harvey Kellogg, and later his brother Will, developed and marketed cereals as healthy, convenient, and digestible breakfast alternatives. Their campaigns framed cereal as essential for productivity and a moral, healthy lifestyle.

Edward Bernays, a public relations consultant, was hired by the bacon industry in the 1920s to increase sales. He orchestrated a campaign where he had a doctor endorse bacon and eggs as a healthy breakfast, then publicized it widely as if it were a scientific finding.

Before the 19th and 20th centuries, breakfast habits varied significantly. In many periods, it was a simple meal or often skipped by adults. During the Industrial Revolution, heavier 'farmer's breakfasts' were common for manual laborers.

While the "most important" claim is largely marketing, many studies do link regular breakfast consumption with improved concentration, better nutrient intake, and healthier body weight. However, recent research acknowledges that individual needs vary and a causal link is difficult to prove.

The Industrial Revolution led to a shift towards factory and office work, requiring a quick, ready-to-eat meal before the workday began. This need for convenience fueled the rise of the cereal industry and modern breakfast foods.

Modern nutritional advice suggests listening to your body's hunger cues. The emphasis should be on choosing a balanced, nutrient-dense meal when you are hungry, rather than feeling obligated to eat simply because of a marketing slogan.