In recent years, intermittent fasting has gained popularity as a dietary approach that involves cycling between periods of fasting and eating. However, many people still believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But what if we told you that this belief was actually a result of clever marketing tactics from the 1920s? In this blog post, we will delve into the history of breakfast and how it became ingrained in our culture as the essential meal of the day.


The Rise of Breakfast
In the early 20th century, America's biggest bacon producer, the Beach Packing Company, faced a challenge. With the rise of industrialization, more people were transitioning from physically demanding jobs to sedentary desk jobs. As a result, the company's sales were declining, as people were becoming more health-conscious and opting for lighter breakfast options.


Edward Bernays and the Manipulation of Masses
To tackle this issue, the Beach Packing Company hired Edward Bernays, a renowned public relations expert and the nephew of Sigmund Freud. Bernays was known for his ability to manipulate public opinion using psychological tactics. He devised a plan to revive the company's sales by changing people's perception of breakfast.


The Breakfast Campaign
Bernays approached a well-known doctor and convinced him to write a letter stating that breakfast was the most important meal of the day. This letter was then sent to doctors across the country, seeking their agreement. However, Bernays conveniently omitted the fact that more people were leading sedentary lifestyles due to desk jobs.


Creating Fear and Influence
To further solidify the importance of breakfast, Bernays collaborated with newspapers to publish alarming headlines emphasizing the need for a substantial morning meal. These headlines played on people's fears of not providing adequate nutrition to their families. As a result, the public fell for the notion that breakfast was crucial for their well-being.


The Impact and Legacy
The Beach Packing Company's marketing campaign was a resounding success. Americans, driven by fear and the belief that breakfast was essential, began consuming larger breakfasts, often consisting of bacon and eggs. This shift in eating habits led to a significant increase in calorie intake before noon, with people consuming over a thousand calories during breakfast alone.


Reevaluating Breakfast
Fast forward to the present day, and intermittent fasting has gained traction as a viable dietary approach. Research suggests that intermittent fasting can have numerous health benefits, including weight loss, improved insulin sensitivity, and increased longevity. This challenges the long-standing belief that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.


The notion that breakfast is the most important meal of the day was not based on scientific evidence but rather a clever marketing campaign from the 1920s. Edward Bernays, using psychological tactics, successfully convinced the public that breakfast was crucial for their well-being. However, as our understanding of nutrition evolves, it is essential to reevaluate these beliefs and consider alternative approaches such as intermittent fasting. Ultimately, the choice of whether to eat breakfast or not should be based on individual preferences and health goals.The Beach Packing Company's marketing campaign was a resounding success. Americans, driven by fear and the belief that breakfast was essential, began consuming larger breakfasts, often consisting of bacon and eggs. This shift in eating habits led to a significant increase in calorie intake before noon, with people consuming over a thousand calories during breakfast alone.