慢速英语:名师问答：美国人的早餐

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Today we answer a question from Levgenii, who was born in Ukraine. He writes:

Question:

Good Day,

I wonder how the usual American breakfasts go. What do Americans prefer to eat in the morning?

Have a nice day – Levgenii.

Answer:

Dear Levgenii,

Thank you for writing to us. The United States has a rich culture when it comes to the morning meal. Let us explore what Americans have for breakfast.

The usual breakfast

During the work week, many Americans have a light breakfast. In fact, nearly 40 percent will not have anything at all. Americans usually save larger breakfasts for the weekend, when they have more time in the morning to cook.

The most popular breakfast food is eggs. Americans prepare eggs in many ways. Most people have a preference for how they are cooked. Some Americans eat their eggs with bacon or sausage, meat products that often come from pigs.

Another popular breakfast food is cereal – a product manufactured from processed cereal grains. It is usually eaten with milk poured over it.

Another favorite is hot coffee. Many people have this with a bagel or a donut. A bagel is a baked good made in the shape of a circle or ring. It is heated until the bread is somewhat hard on the outside, but soft on the inside. Donuts, like bagels, are ring-shaped. But they are cooked in oil and have a sweet taste.

The United States is culturally diverse, and you can find so many kinds of food. So, while eggs and meat are popular, millions of Americans eat other things for breakfast.

Brunch

On weekends, people have more time to cook and eat. Many Americans may enjoy a meal we call "brunch" on a weekend day. That word combines "breakfast" and "lunch" – the term for a mid-day meal. Brunch is usually a larger meal than the weekday breakfast.

Americans have coffee, fruit juice and sometimes even alcoholic drinks with brunch. Popular foods include waffles and pancakes – two kinds of cake. French toast is also popular. It is made from bread combined with a sweet, milky egg mixture, which is then cooked.

I hope that helps to answer your question, Levgenii.

And that's Ask a Teacher.

What question do you have about American English? Send us an email at www.hxen.com

I'm Gregory Stachel.

Gregory Stachel wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.