A bowl of cornflakes for breakfast could soon be replaced by scrambled eggs as gen z and millennials insist cereal is outdated and unhealthy opting for a healthier natural breakfast

Gen Z are ditching classic breakfast items, including chocolate croissants (41 percent), fried bread (38 percent), Coco Pops (35 percent) and Frosted Cornflakes (32 percent), to improve their health and because they are ultra processed and are bad for you.

In fact, almost half (48 percent) of the 2,000 Gen Z and Millennials surveyed by British Lion Eggs consider sugary cereals to be unhealthy, with a further 47 percent saying they have changed what they eat in the morning to improve their health (58 percent) and so they eat less processed food (18 percent).

Two thirds (65 percent) go a step further and admit they are more concerned about processed food now than three years ago, leading to 66 percent cutting the amount in their diet.

Black pudding (31 percent), chocolate spread (31 percent), croissants (27 percent), American-style pancakes (25 percent) are also off the breakfast table for those under 44 years old, along with the classic Rice Krispies (24 percent). 

Instead, modern Brits are tucking into scrambled eggs (54 percent), poached eggs with avocado (43 percent), fruit (43 percent), scrambled eggs and salmon (39 percent) and Greek yoghurt (37 percent) to start the day. 

Overnight oats (30 percent), homemade granola (22 percent), and gut healthy green vegetable smoothies (21 percent) are also on the menu, along with a veggie breakfast bap (13 percent), breakfast burrito (12 percent) and viral TikTok Balkan breakfast (12 percent), which includes raw vegetables, bread, cheese, eggs and cured meat.
 
Shakshuka (11 percent), cloud eggs (seven percent) and Huevos Rancheros (seven percent), all baked egg dishes, are also popular with younger Brits – as is the humble kipper (five percent), which is back on the menu.

More than half (53 percent) believe that tucking into nutrient-dense foods, like eggs (62 percent), Greek yoghurt (53 percent) and porridge (43 percent) is the ONLY way to start your day.

However, despite concerns over processed food - and four in ten (40 percent) agreeing that health-conscious Brits are moving towards more whole and natural foods to start their morning - 29 percent of those surveyed admit they down a protein shake for breakfast, while 24 percent love a bacon sandwich.

A spokesperson from British Lion Eggs said: 

“It’s clear that younger Brits have good intentions when it comes to what they eat for breakfast. They are increasingly opting for naturally nutritious foods to start the day. Breakfast trends come and go, but eggs remain at the top of the menu, and they are now being enjoyed alongside other healthier options as well as being recognised as an unbeatable nutrient-packed choice.“

Even though, ketchup (43 percent) remains the number one, spicy sauces are rising the breakfast condiments ranks with one in twenty now opting for chili (seven percent) and sweet chilli sauce (seven percent) to wake them up.
 
It’s no surprise that 69 percent of those polled say they like to spice up their breakfasts. 
  
Over half (54 percent) think that what people eat for breakfast has changed over the years, with 42 percent agreeing that modern Brits are more concerned about having a healthier breakfast than previous generations.

Breakfast remains consistent though with two thirds (66 percent) eating it every day, an increase from 49 percent three years ago. Over half (55 percent) think that ‘breakfast is the most important meal of the day’. 

TRADITIONAL BREAKFAST ITEMS FALLING OUT OF FAVOUR WITH MODERN BRITS:
1.    Chocolate croissants – 41%
2.    Fried bread – 38%
3.    Coco Pops – 35%
4.    Pop Tarts – 34%
5.    Frosted Cornflakes – 32%
6.    Black Pudding – 31%
7.    Chocolate spread – 31%
8.    Pain au chocolate – 28%
9.    Croissants – 27%
10.    American pancakes – 25%
11.    Rice Krispies – 24%
12.    Blueberry muffins – 21%
13.    Sausages – 21%
14.    Shreddies – 20%
15.    Brown sauce – 20%
16.    Marmalade – 20%
17.    Special K – 20%
18.    Kedgeree – 19%
19.    Tea with milk and sugar – 19%
20.    Apricot jam – 19%
21.    Shop bought granola – 18%
22.    Whole milk – 18%
23.    Hash browns – 18%
24.    Toast with margarine – 16%
25.    Strawberry jam – 15%
26.    Raspberry jam – 13%
27.    Cornflakes – 13%
28.    Toast with butter – 12%
29.    Fruit juice – 12%
30.    Semi skimmed milk – 11%

MODERN BREAKFAST DISHES, ACCORDING TO MODERN BRITS:
1.    Scrambled eggs – 54%
2.    Poached eggs with avocado – 43%
3.    Fruit – 43%
4.    Scrambled eggs with salmon – 39%
5.    Greek yoghurt – 37%
6.    Eggs on sourdough bread – 36%
7.    Fried eggs – 31%
8.    Omelette – 30%
9.    Overnight oats – 30%
10.    Protein shake – 29%
11.    Oat milk – 27%
12.    Smashed avocado on toast – 24%
13.    Bacon sandwich – 24%
14.    Almond milk – 24%
15.    Banana bread – 23%
16.    Egg white omelette – 23%
17.    Homemade granola – 22%
18.    Chia seeds – 21%
19.    Green vegetable smoothie – 21%
20.    Boiled eggs and soldiers – 19%
21.    French toast – 16%
22.    Eggs benedict – 16%
23.    Vegan breakfast bap – 13%
24.    Breakfast burrito – 12%
25.    Balkan breakfast – 12%
26.    Shakshuka – 11%
27.    Eggs Florentine – 8%
28.    Fried halloumi – 8%
29.    Cloud eggs – 7%
30.    Huevos rancheros – 7%