What are Millennials Eating at Breakfast Restaurants?
Studies show Millennials pick more adventurous options at breakfast restaurants.
People say a lot about the Millennial generation days, including that they love adventure. And according to research by Datassential, that translates to their choices at breakfast restaurants as well. In a survey of 1,280 consumers, Millennials were more interested in innovated new breakfast ideas than other age groups. This includes healthy options and ethnic choices.
What specifically interests Millennials at breakfast restaurants? The survey found that 65% would choose elevated comfort food options. This includes things like biscuits and gravy made in “premium” versions. 63% of respondents said they were interested in breakfast sandwiches in either “monster” or mini options.
So what aren’t Millennials eating for breakfast? Well, cereal most notably. In February, the New York Times reported in a story about breakfast cereal that research showed 40% of Millennials said cereal was an inconvenient choice because they had to clean up after. While this generation is most likely to skip breakfast all together, when they do eat, it’s in breakfast restaurants rather than at home. They also prefer to eat breakfast options outside of the traditional hours. About 16% of the participants in the Datassential survey said they breakfast items as an afternoon snack. They also enjoy eating breakfast for dinner.
Eat These Foods for the Best Breakfast
Experts and mom say to be sure to include protein for the best breakfast.
If you want to start your day off right with the best breakfast, you need to make healthy choices. A balanced meal of protein, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. The specifics will depend on your personal goals and current health, but in general your meal should be made up of about 25% protein, 25% carbohydrates, and 50% fruits and vegetables. Given this information, check out these easy and nutritious ideas to start your day with the best breakfast.
Greek Yogurt with Granola and Berries. Granola can really pack a punch of sugar and fat so always check the label. Non-fat Greek yogurt typically contains about 22 grams of protein per one cup serving, just what you need to fill you up and fuel you for the day.
Egg White and Veggie Omelet. Use whole eggs if you want or just the whites for a leaner protein source. Pack your omelet with spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, and more.
Oatmeal with Peanut Butter and Fruit. Use whole rolled or steel cut oats rather than the more processed quick or instant options. Just two tablespoons of peanut butter contains eight grams of protein and a healthy dose of unsaturated fat. Add some bananas and blueberries for vitamins and antioxidants.
What are Breakfast Restaurants Serving Around the World?
Pancakes and eggs may reign supreme at breakfast restaurants in Denver, but what’s cooking around the world?
If you dine at local breakfast restaurants like The Original Pancake House, you’ll likely find the classics. Bacon and eggs, omelets, pancakes, French toast and waffles. But what about breakfast restaurants in other countries? What are people eating around the world?
In European countries, such as Spain, France and Italy, breakfast primarily consists of coffee and a pastry. In England they’re enjoying what is usually referred to as “full English breakfast.” This consists of bacon and eggs, sausages, grilled tomato, fried mushrooms, toast with butter and jam, and tea. It may sometimes include beans and the sausages can be Black Pudding, which is made with pigs’ blood.
In Brazil, they enjoy strong coffee with bread, ham and cheese. In Columbia, they eat arepas, a thick corn cake. These are usually split open and filled with many types of ingredients and enjoyed all day. But at breakfast they are most often served simply with butter and jam, or with eggs and meat.
If you dine at breakfast restaurants in Germany, you’re likely to be served a selection of breads with butter and jam, cold meats and cheese. In Japan, the morning meal can include rice, miso soup, fish, pickled vegetables and a type of omelet tamagoyaki. And if you eat breakfast in Jamaica, you’ll enjoy ackee, a type of fruit that is served cooked, along with salted fish, fried plantains and fresh fruit.
Is the Best Denver Breakfast Eaten at Home?
With the best breakfast in Denver available at so many restaurants, are you still eating the most important meal at home?
Once upon a time breakfast was primarily eaten at home as a sit-down meal. Nowadays many people are either skipping breakfast all together, or eating on the go. We’re lucky to have a lot of great Denver breakfast options, but are you taking advantage of them? Do you bring something from home and eat in the car? Or do you stop at a café or restaurant to grab something?
Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN) reported that according to market research conducted by The NPD Group, visits to restaurants at breakfast increased 2% in 2014. NRN also reported on the results of an online survey of 1,508 adults who eat breakfast away from home at least twice a month. The survey by Kellogg’s found that most of the respondents prefer quick-service restaurants in the morning.
The Kellogg’s survey also found that 21% of those who eat breakfast away from home focus on value and portability for their breakfast. This means they want a good deal and something they can eat on the go. About 12.5% of those surveyed prefer to drink something for their breakfast.
Kellogg’s also found a group of 20% of the respondents that are least likely to skip breakfast. Within this group two-thirds are over the age of 44 and they prioritize value and quality. This group often eats breakfast in full-service restaurants. They make their choice based on price, quality of service and proximity to home.
If you’re in the mood to sit down and enjoy a delicious Denver breakfast, we’ll see you at The Original Pancake House!
Are the Best Breakfast Places in Denver Locally Owned?
When it comes to the best breakfast places in Denver, are they all locally owned? Do you think that there are any chain restaurants that make the list? Denver is a city where people really appreciate locally owned businesses and locally sourced ingredients. We know that supporting our local economy is very important. So when you look for the lists of the best breakfast places in Denver, it only makes sense that a lot of those places are locally owned.
Of course you can get a fantastic breakfast at many chain restaurants. Just because an establishment is corporately owned doesn’t mean that they don’t do a great job. In fact, the state of Colorado has seen the birth of several different restaurants that went on to become successful national chains. And besides this, it's good that people have a lot of choices.
The Original Pancake House is a homegrown family business from Portland, Oregon that grew to be a successful national franchise. Both of our Denver locations are locally owned and operated by the great niece of the franchise co-founder. We’re proud to carry on the tradition our great food and warm hospitality (and of course our fantastic pancakes) in Colorado. We’d love to have you join us for breakfast soon!
Breakfast Trivia with The Original Pancake House Denver
The next time you join us for a delicious breakfast at The Original Pancake House Denver, here’s some fun trivia about the most important meal to help you impress your friends and family.
- What is Cap’n Crunch’s first name?
- Who invented the doughnut?
- Which state is currently number one in egg production?
- What athlete has been on the Wheaties box the most?
- What is the name of the green rooster that has been on the box of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes since 1958?
- What percentage of adults have eaten cold pizza for breakfast before?
- How many Americans skip breakfast every day?
- What year was the automatic pop-up toasted invented?
- What do the British call thin strips of toast used to dip into soft-boiled eggs?
- What artist illustrated the early boxes of Grape Nuts cereal?
Scroll down for the answers.
- Horatio
- The Dutch are generally believed by historians to have created the first doughnut recipe in the mid-19th century. They fried sweet balls of dough in pork fat, known as olykoeks (oily cakes).
- Iowa
- Michael Jordan (18 times)
- Cornelius
- 39%
- 31 million
- 1919
- Soldiers. It’s believed this is a reference to the Humpty Dumpty nursery rhyme.
- Norman Rockwell illustrations were used by Post in 1919.
We look forward to seeing you soon at one of the two convenient locations of The Original Pancake House Denver.
Do you Dine Alone at Denver Breakfast Places?
Dining out is generally a social activity. We love to go out with our friends and loved ones and socialize over a great meal. But not always, some people really enjoy going solo to restaurants. Others may do it only when necessary, like when traveling for business. Do you ever dine alone at Denver breakfast places? If so, do you look for certain things in a location that make it more suitable for the solo diner?
The option to sit at the counter is a big consideration for those who eat alone at Denver breakfast places. After all, that’s exactly what the counter is there for. It can feel awkward to some taking up an entire booth or table when you’re by yourself. But not every restaurant has them so the intrepid solo diner must confidently tell the hostess, “Table for one, please!”
Televisions are also a welcome offering for anyone dining alone. It’s comforting to be able to sit and watch the news or the game while enjoying the meal by yourself. What about the atmosphere of the restaurant? Is it better for the place to be crowded and noisy so you can just blend in and eat unnoticed? Or do you think it’s better when the restaurant is quiet and you can relax with your thoughts?
Does the type of restaurant or the meal you’re having make a difference when you dine alone? Would you never go out to dinner at a fine dining place along? Or is breakfast at a casual diner is the most comfortable meal to enjoy solo? Wherever you go and no matter what you eat, The Original Pancake House tips our hat to the independent spirit of those who dine alone!
Why You Should Never Skip Breakfast in Denver
You probably heard this line a lot growing up, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” You may think that it’s just a quaint saying, but starting your day with breakfast is always a great idea. Countless studies have shown the many benefits, especially for children. If you’re still feeling skeptical, here’s some great information showing why you should never skip breakfast in Denver, or anywhere else for that matter.
Eating breakfast sets us up to make healthier choices for the rest of the day. When we skip breakfast we get hungrier and eat progressively more at subsequent meals, and unfortunately we aren’t picking the good stuff. According to information collected from Massive Health’s Eatery iPhone app, people who eat breakfast are 12.3% healthier throughout the day than those who don’t, and people who don’t eat breakfast eat 6.8% more food throughout the day. If you skip breakfast daily, all those extra calories can really add up over time. According to Statistic Brain, 22% of people who skip breakfast are obese.
When it comes to teens, skipping breakfast has shown to have to have similar dramatic effects on the health. Studies by the Institute of Food Technologists found that those who skip breakfast consume 40% more sweets, 55% more soft drinks, 45% fewer vegetables and 30% less fruit than those who do.
The numbers speak for themselves, breakfast really is the most important meal of the day, for all of us. Do yourself and your family a favor, join us at The Original Pancake House for breakfast in Denver and start your day off right!
EGGstravagant Easter Eggs!
Easter is one of our favorite holidays as we always enjoy a big family brunch with our loved ones. But the highlight for the little ones is usually the Easter Bunny and of course the Egg Hunt! We love decorating our own Easter Eggs and each year we try to come up with a few fun new ideas to surprise the kids. Here are a few of our favorite Easter Egg ideas:
Easter Chick Eggs:
First dye your Easter Eggs yellow with traditional egg dye. Once the dye has dried, use a permanent marker to draw eyes, a beak, and cute little wings.
Neon Dip-Dyed Eggs:
Use bright or neon colored dye for these eggs. Wrap small strips of tape around eggs and dip parts of the eggs in different color dyes. Remove tap when finished to reveal stripes of natural shell color. Experiment with overlapping colors and angles.
Glitter Eggs:
Dye eggs in a variety of colors. Once dye has dried, use glue to create lined design patterns or polka dots. Gently roll eggs in glitter allowing the sparkles to adhere to the glue strips. Shake of excess glitter and allow eggs to fully dry. Alternatively, you can skip the dye and cover the whole egg in glue and then roll in glitter to create beautiful and sparkly eggs.
Tattoo Eggs:
Tattoo eggs are a cute idea for slightly older children. Purchase a variety of temporary tattoos - Spiderman, butterflies, hearts, etc., any design will work! Follow instructions to adhere tattoos to eggs. Either overlap images to cover entire egg, or select one larger image to feature on each egg.
Of course we adults love watching the Egg Hunt, but our highlight is usually the Easter Brunch that follows. If you’re up all night decorating eggs, join us for Easter breakfast or brunch in Denver. We’ll be happy to feed the whole family! Happy Easter from your friends at the Original Pancake House!
Celebrate National Hot Breakfast Month!
We all know by now that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If your normal routine of cold cereal is giving you the winter blues, it might be time to spice up your morning with a hot breakfast. February is the perfect time to switch up the menu as this month is National Hot Breakfast Month.
For those who are on the go and need a very quick meal in the morning, hot oatmeal might be just the ticket. Simply boil water, mix with instant oats, and you are ready to go. If you plan ahead, you can even make traditional oats in the slow-cooker overnight and have them piping hot and ready for you as head out the door, check out our recipe here.
In our house, we like to make egg sandwiches each morning. They are quick, easy, filling, and healthy! Simply toast English muffins, fry up a couple of eggs, add cheese and ham if you like, and you are ready to eat in just three minutes. You can even wrap these yummy breakfast sammies up in tin foil and eat them during the morning commute.
On weekends, when we have a little more time, we try our hand at homemade pancakes, waffles, and muffins. And of course on lazy weekends we celebrate with breakfast out in Denver! Sometimes it is nice to have your friends at the Original Pancake House do all the work, and clean-up, for you!
From our breakfast table to yours, happy National Hot Breakfast Month!
Meet Karen Kinney!
You’ve probably seen Karen Kinney’s smiling face around the Original Pancake House each time you head out for breakfast at our Cherry Hills location. Karen was the Manager of our Denver Tech Center location for ten years before she transferred to Cherry Hills to become a General Manager this past October. We thought you might like to get to know the lady behind the smile. Read on to learn a bit more about our wonderful General Manager, Karen Kinney!
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself and where you are from.
A: My name is Karen Kinney, and I am from Canada. I was born in a small town in Alberta called Medicine Hat, and raised in British Columbia in a place called Invermere, just outside of the Banff National Park. I met my husband Troy skiing in Kimberley B.C. and moved to Spokane Wash. where we lived until moving to St. Louis Mo. for 2 years, and Clovis Ca. for 8 months, before settling down in Highlands Ranch where we have raised our 2 children.
Q: How long have you been with the Original Pancake House?
A: I started as a server for the Original Pancake House Denver Tech Center when my daughter was 4yrs old, and she is now 16 and works as a Host for our Cherry Hills location. Our son also worked for me at the DTC location as a Host while he was in High School. I became a Manager at DTC the same year I started working there and have been with the Franchise for 12 years now. I was promoted in September of last year and given the position of General Manager for the Cherry Hills location.
Q: What is your favorite part about working at OPH?
A: My favorite part of working for the Pancake House is the people! I love the staff and guests as they have become my family since my real family is in Canada still. They make me laugh, cry and smile with all of their stories, jokes and antics.
Q: What is your favorite menu item?
A: My favorite menu item is always changing; I eat something different every day! But interestingly enough before I started working here I did not like to eat eggs. Now I will crave a simple side of scrambled eggs almost every day.
Q: If you could have breakfast with anyone, living or dead, who would it be and what would you eat?
A: It I could have breakfast with anyone I suppose I would choose Lady Diana. She was such an amazing and poised person that had so much to offer in the short time she was with us. With her I would love to show off our delicate Dutch Baby and that would be my breakfast choice, along with a side of our infamous bacon, and hot tea of course!
Thank you Karen for sharing a little bit about yourself! The next time you are out for breakfast in Denver, be sure to say “hi” to Karen, she will always treat you as family.
Denver Broncos Super Bowl Specials!
At the Original Pancake House we are so proud of our Denver Broncos that we decided to salute these brave men as they face off against the Panthers in Super Bowl 50 this Sunday. We’ve come up with a couple of delicious Super Bowl Specials for this weekend only! If you are out for breakfast in Denver, come celebrate the Super Bowl 50 with these scrumptious orange and blue breakfasts! GO BRONCOS!
SUPER BOWL SPECIALS
Mile High Salute
A Denver scramble with peppers and ham over our home fried potatoes smothered in Tillamook Cheddar Cheese and Pork Green Chile Sauce. Served with three Bronco Orange pancakes topped with orange whipped cream and blue sprinkles. $12.95
Go Broncos Plate
Three of our made from scratch Bronco Orange pancakes topped with orange whipped cream and blue sprinkles. Served with two strips of Pigskin (bacon). $7.50