Instant Breakfast on the Rise, Hot Breakfast in Decline

As the saying goes, to be healthy, one needs to have a good breakfast, a full lunch and a light dinner. The importance of breakfast is self-evident.

In the past, steaming hot coffee, bread, porridge and traditional breakfast were important rituals for many people to start their day. However, as people's pace of life quickens, more young people are increasingly neglecting to have breakfast. Either have a casual bite or don't eat at all. Some young people have sandwiches, ready-to-eat foods and takeout drinks for breakfast all year round. Whether traditional hot breakfasts are gradually being replaced by fast breakfasts has become a topic of social interest.

In the early morning, convenience stores and coffee chains in the urban area gradually welcomed customers. Many office workers and students hurriedly bought breakfast and then rushed to their schools or workplaces. In contrast, although traditional breakfast shops still have regular customers, the number of young people has significantly decreased.

Figure 1 : A table full of light breakfast （Sources： Google ）

Leo, a sophomore at Taylor’s University, said that due to the tight schedule of his classes, in order to save sufficient time, he usually chooses a convenient and quick breakfast.

“If I have classes in the morning, I usually buy sandwiches and coffee. Sometimes when I'm in a hurry, I even leave home after just a glass of milk. Although I know that a hot breakfast is healthier, I don't have much time to sit down and eat slowly.”he said。

Mr. Oliver, who works as an editor in a media outlet, is in a similar situation. He admitted that after starting work, his pace of life quickened and he had to write a large number of articles every day. To save more time, breakfast habits have changed a lot.

“When I was at school, my family would prepare a hot breakfast. Now, most of the time, I buy bread or sandwiches on my way to work. Of course, there are also many choices of street burgers. Convenience is the main reason, as everyone is in a hurry.”he said.

For many young people, breakfast is not just a meal; it is also part of time management. A survey from《China Youth Daily》by Han Mei in 2025 shows that 58.2% of people usually have breakfast at home, 19.4% usually have breakfast at work, and 10.7% have breakfast on their way to work or school. With the development of food delivery platforms, convenience stores and chain coffee shops, the "buy and go" consumption model has gradually become mainstream.

However, traditional breakfast vendors believe that this trend is influencing people's dietary culture. Ms. Li, who has been running a breakfast shop for over 15 years, said that in recent years, customers' consumption habits have changed significantly. 

“In the past, many people would sit down and enjoy their breakfast slowly, chatting with their family and friends. Nowadays, most customers take away their packages, and this is especially true for young customers. They attach more importance to efficiency and are less willing to spend time on breakfast.” She said.

Despite this, she still believes that traditional hot breakfasts are attractive. Many middle-aged and elderly customers still come to the store every day to enjoy hot breakfast, while some young people also choose to have traditional breakfast with their families on weekends.

In addition to lifestyle changes, health issues have also drawn attention. Huang Meiling, who works as a health consultant at Sunway city, pointed out that breakfast is an important meal of the day. Long-term neglect of breakfast or reliance on high-sugar and high-fat fast food may affect one's health.

“There is no absolute distinction of good or bad between a hot breakfast and a cold breakfast. The key lies in whether the nutrition is balanced. Many young people, due to being in a hurry, just skip breakfast casually. Long-term development can lead to a decline in personal attention, easy fatigue and affect long-term health.” She explained.

She suggested that people should plan their breakfast time in advance and choose foods rich in protein, whole grains and fruits to ensure that their bodies can get enough energy.

As fast breakfasts become increasingly popular, will traditional hot breakfasts gradually fade out of people's lives? How to strike a balance between convenience and health will become an important issue in the development of modern dietary culture.