Hearty and Delicious English Breakfasts by Amy

I love visiting England, especially after I have been traveling in other places. First of all, when I am in the UK I am usually staying at a friend's or family member's home so I can put together favorite ingredients into a meal. Secondly, most cities have plant-based milks in the grocery stores and often in cafes, and finally, I speak the national language (if somewhat differently that the locals) and this makes it easier to communicate my dietary wishes.

I remember the first time I was going to visit my, then friend, now partner Sophie at her mother's home in West London. Sophie told her mother about my plant-based dietary pattern before I arrived. Among other incredulous questions, she asked, "what can she eat for breakfast?" She wanted to know that she had all the requisite supplies to make sure I was happy and well-nourished while visiting. Luckily I had visited England before and remembered that a common simple vegan breakfast served is baked beans on toast. I emailed Sophie a whole list of breakfast foods that I enjoyed (toast, fruit, oats, potatoes, etc.), but it was this item that set her mum at ease.

I still love a good English Breakfast Vegetarian-style (hold the eggs), though I didn't have one this visit. Vegetarian English Breakfast is usually toast, pan-grilled tomatoes and mushrooms, and baked beans. A fancy one will also include a vegetarian sausage and/or potatoes. Who really needs the eggs? 

This trip I visited dear friends in Buxton England, Fiona, Dan, Aidan and Will, and then Sophie and her mum in West London over a period of about 10 days. The breakfasts were hearty, healthy and delicious. My favorite breakfast in Buxton this trip was Alpro lemon-lime soya yogurt with muesli with raisins, malt squares cereal, and fresh strawberries.

Best part about it was getting to eat breakfast across the table from Will. 

Breakfast with Will

I love Alpro products and the company’s organic line Provamel. I was first introduced to Alpro about 9 years ago when I was visiting England to see my "fairy god-child" Aidan. The company is based in Belgium, and makes (still in my opinion) the best soya yogurts and puddings, as well as top-notch soya milks. Late June and early July are strawberry season in England; and the berries are very good--densely flavored and juicy.  

Breakfast in the London flat most mornings was some variation on vegetarian sausages on toast with pan-grilled mushrooms. A couple of mornings we had sautéed onions, green garlic and chard (these latter two ingredients traveled with me from Dan's allotment in Buxton), a couple mornings, we had sliced avocado and cherry tomatoes, and often a handful of strawberries. 

As often as possible I like to include fresh from the garden greens for breakfast. I keep a garden at home and regularly work cooked greens into our breakfast. It's a great way to get a jumpstart on meeting vitamin and mineral needs over the course of the day and high “qi” foods in the morning get you started off well energetically as well. On my last morning in Buxton, Dan and I spent a few hours at the allotment weeding, harvesting and planting. He had a veritable forest of overgrown chard plants as well as kale, garlic, rhubarb, herbs, lettuce, and gooseberries ready for harvest. 

On my last morning, I had a delightful vegan breakfast at the WonderTree in Terminal 2 of London's Heathrow airport. Right there on the menu was whole grain toast topped with avocado smash and crushed red pepper. I paired it with a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice and fueled up for a long day of travel. 

I have had great luck eating at Heathrow airport. In addition to the place I had my yummy breakfast this trip, I have also had great vegan meals at Giraffe Restaurant at Heathrow. And on my way to Greece shared a great lunch in Munich airport at place called 4URBS. 

Athens airport offers a point and pick salad place with a wide variety of ingredients.

In all cases, my UK breakfasts were accompanied by at least 2 large mugs full of English Breakfast tea and soya milk. The option to have English black tea with a smooth, non-curdling, non-bean tasting plant-based milk is a real pleasure. And whenever she is anticipating a visit from me, Sophie's mum still makes sure that there is fresh fruit and soya milk in her home for me.