THE BRITISH BREAKFAST.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1899, 6 November 1913, Page 5

THE BRITISH BREAKFAST.

PLEA FOR SIMPLE COFFEE AND ROLLS. An attack has been made on that great British institution, the breakfast, by the "Lancet," which discusses tho advisability of going without breakfast, in view of tho belief that after the night's' sleep the bodily strength, nervous and muscular, is at its highest, and work can be carried on without food.

"There would appear," states the "Lancet," "to bo good foundation for pucli belief, and yet in this country, at any rate, we believe very few people act upon it. How many men are in the habit 'of doing any work before they have breakfasted P, Very, few we imagine. Yet, as the evidencei of some litorary men proves, there is no time of day more, fitted for the production of intef. lectual or imaginative work than tho early morning hours, which, quiet and refreshing, are friendly to brain work, breakfast or no breakfast.

"For manual labour the no-breakfast plan is not so suitable. A little fresh air exercise to start the day, following the habit of some athletes in training, is a thing that many a professional' or business man might cultivate with advantage. We do not think, however, that he will bo disposed to omit breakfast before entering on the day's work, nor can we encourage him to do so. But we are convinced that his breakfast should often be lighter than that of the average Englishman. There is a great deal to bo said in favour of tho 'coffee and rolls' plan, and for men whose day is spent in work which taxes the brain and nervous system generally more than the muscles, the wise course is to relegate anything approach, ing a hearty meal to tho period of relaxation, tho evening.. But that part of tho Continental system which involves the eating of a heavy lunch is as objectionable as our own heavy breakfast plan."

Referring to the quick luncher, tho remark is made that if he is also a heavy luncher, he combines the evil properties of both the Continental and English methods. .