Sigmund Freud and a Side of Grits—An American Breakfast Tale 

By Kim Amboy :

Skillfully navigating through a noisy greasy spoon, a food laden girl approaches your table. “Here’s your order,” she announces and carefully sets a steaming plate before you. She offers, “How about a warmup on that coffee?” After topping off your cup, she hurries off to another table, leaving you to stare with anticipation at the meal before you…classic American breakfast: two eggs, bacon, toast, and a side of hashbrowns. Most of the other diners are enjoying the same entrees. How come? Why do Americans love bacon and eggs so much? An interesting discussion I recently had with a relative reveals the answer. 

My relative wove a tale for me of a man named Edward Bernays, who, in the 1920’s, found himself in the advertising employ of the Beech-Nut Packing Company, the country’s largest bacon producer. Sales were falling off because city people were doing less physically demanding work and were becoming more weight conscious, thus putting the traditional farm breakfast of meat and eggs out of vogue. Typical breakfasts of his day consisted of a piece of toast, orange juice, and a cup of coffee. He sweetened the plot by adding this tidbit: Mr. Bernays happened to be the nephew of none other than famous psychoanalyst, Sigmund Freud. 

Bernays hired a well-known physician to ask hundreds of doctors whether a light breakfast or a heavy breakfast was better. Most of the doctors gave confirmation that heavy breakfasts were superior for better health. Using some of his uncle’s psychological approach, he released this “scientific” data to the newspapers, and within six months, Beech-Nut’s sales boomed! The classic American breakfast returned, this time for good!

While some of you may never look at another breakfast plate the same, nothing will alter the fact that traditional American breakfast food is the most popular thing we eat. Restaurants that serve breakfast all day hold a special place in the hearts of American diners and break traditional rules by offering it at any hour, whenever the craving strikes. Personally, I order eggs benedict with extra hollandaise ANYTIME I find it on the menu (I’m incurably addicted). In your personal quest for a traditional breakfast in a nostalgic setting, try Westwood Fountain 5823 Patterson Ave. Richmond. 

Finally, this breakfast discussion would not be complete if I did not mention Brunch. Enjoying a good brunch with friends turns into a nice blend of morning favorites, social time, and relaxation a little later than the crack of dawn. For excellent brunch and cocktails, try First Watch (several locations in the Richmond area). 

02/2026

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