Protein for breakfast
 

Is it going to be hard to find protein for breakfast? I keep reading about everyone eating pastries and that Europeans don't eat eggs and breakfast meats like we do in the U.S. If I eat all those carbs with no protein, I'll turn into a zombie and then my energy will crash in about an hour.
Thanks

Bring a jar of peanut butter or those JIF peanut butter cups/Skippy in a tube with you for your protein boast. My daughter has a problem not having protein especially for breakfast and we have always used the above whether we were in India,Paris or Turkey. Good luck!

Thanks dutyfree, that's a great idea. Do they offer anything like cheese or yogurt for breakfast?

I think it depends on where you're going to be.
If you're going to be at a big international hotel with a breakfast buffet then you will have many choices.
If you're staying in a vacation rental then you can buy everything you want at the grocery store.
Smaller hotels seem to offer "continental" (coffee and toast), but sometimes have cheese and yogurt. Again, it depends on the country. Europe is a diverse place. I found Central European hotels to offer more breakfast choices than those in Italy, France and Spain. There, you won't find much diversity in hotel breakfasts or many places to go out to breakfast as you will in the US. Most little bar/cafes only offer coffee and pastry too.
You can buy yogurt and keep it in your hotel if your room has a fridge.
I also sometimes bring protein bars and nuts with me to snack on.

usually can get yogurt, or soft-boiled eggs. I second the pb, also if your room has a frig, you could buy an aged salami, or some cheese. I need protein in the am & usually have a big breakfast because I run, run run & don't stop til late afternoon.

We find even most small hotels and B&B's serve yogurt, cheese and usually a sliced meat like salami. Warning about the peanut butter - don't put it in your carryon. Ours was confiscated as a "liquid".

I usually stay in an apartment or a hotel with a fridge. I keep cheese, meats and other goodies for breakfast. I've also gone out to casual cafes for breakfast and they usually served omelets..often with cheese.

Margy

Connie - which country are you going to? There's no such thing as a typical 'european' breakfast.

It also depends where you are staying. Cheapo places you naturally won't get much. Expensive places you'll have quite a spread.

But in any case, probably 80% of the 'continental' breakfasts I've had have included cheese and cold meat like salami. Yoghurt is very common too (especially in Greece, served with honey, mmmmmmmmmm).

In Germany, at modest 2* and 3* hotels, you often get a wonderful breakfast buffet with many protein choices, included in the room price. So it really does matter where you are going.

If you can't get what you want at your hotel, and if you can't stock groceries because your have no in-room fridge, you can find drinkable yoghurt or yoghurt smoothies in all sizes at supermarkets or neighborhood stores.

Having travelled all over Europe the past couple of years, I can't think of any hotels that did not serve cheese, meat or yoghurt.

Yes, which country ?

In France & Italy, modest hotels sometimes just serve pastries and bread. Medium priced hotels up usually have (not very exciting) cheese, cold meats and sometimes boiled eggs. Germanic countries are big on cheese and cold meats & fish. In the UK and Ireland a cooked breakfast involves mainly (fried) protein - eggs, bacon, sausages (usually containing some breadcrumbs), black pudding, etc; plus sometimes an option of a smoked fish like kippers.

Connie,

I suffer from low blood sugar and can't OD on carbs for breakfast or lunch or I also have no energy.

Most hotels I've stayed in in Europe have yogurt and quite often sunflower seeds or some type of seed or nut. The bread is often a whole grain and many times there is cheese and sliced meat although I don't like to start my day with cheese and I don't love salamis and such (too salty).

Many hotels also have a muesli of varying quality that you can add to the yogurt. Better hotels will also have a bowl of soft-boiled eggs on a buffet. Also, for a few Euros, most places will make you eggs if they aren't on the buffet - you just need to ask.

I usually bring along a few small bags of nuts of some sort on my trips. Easier than PB and you can sneak them into your yogurt or cereal. Plus, I like to have a ziploc of them in my purse in case I get too past my normal meal time and start to feel lousy or cranky.

Your thread made me smile, since I'm always harassing my teenagers to "eat some protein for breakfast." I'm sure they'll mention this obsession in my eulogy someday;)

gruezi

Thanks everyone for great ideas.

PB sounded good but I am doing carry on only. Might try anyway. I have a few protein bars and I'll add nuts. Surely, I can buy more there.

I'm glad to know I can ask for eggs even if they aren't on the menu--can't hurt to ask.

Gruezi, you know exactly how I feel. I never leave home without some nuts in my purse/car. I don't want to miss one second of Europe by being a zombie.

We'll be in Paris, Rome, Florence, CT and Switzerland and we're staying in smallish hotels--don't think we'll have a fridge but maybe we can find some things at the grocery store that don't have to be refrigerated.

Thanks again, everyone.

Connie,

If you ask for eggs, say you just want eggs. Some hotels will try to sell you on omelettes, potatoes, toast, etc so they can charge you. Be firm, just eggs please, and you won't pay much at all.

Have fun!

gruezi

ps I just found out walnuts are about the healthiest nut esp for women. I usually prefer almonds or pecans but I've switched for the health factor.

In something like an Ibis Hotel, the breakfast buffet includes unlimited cold cuts, cheese, yogurt, etc.

Well I live here in the US and we never have heavy, greasy egg and bacon breakfasts. Frankly, I don't know how to swallow that stuff at 7am. All I can manage is toast or cereal. And that goes for most people I know. (Brunch is different since you're actually having that at lunch time.)

But - to each is own.

If this type of breakfast is so important to you - check out what your hotel offers (some places have hard-boiled eggs - and in northern europe there are often buffets - but cold with meats and cheeses).

Or - you can ask the hotel what places in the neighborhood serve that type of breakfast.

NYtraveler, I never said anything about greasy eggs and bacon. I just said I need a little protein for breakfast--not just coffee and pastry. Yogurt, cheese, nuts, peanut butter

You obviously know nothing about what kind of diet people with low blood sugar need. Frankly, I think everyone would feel better with a little protein to start the day. You get longer lasting energy instead of quick energy that fades quickly in a short period of time.

The JAR of peanut butter will NOT get past TSA. I've had mine taken away.
I'm a combo of vegetarian/vegan/macro and eat some fish. I'm allergic to dairy, except butter, so can't get the protein from dairy foods. So,in the old days...not that long ago...I'd always pack the jar of peanut butter and with no problem. Plus, I used it often when my the airline would forget my special meal on those 18-plus hour flights and I lived off of peanut butter and rolls.
I can't live off of all that sugary/high carb food in Europe either. I don't eat like that at home. I've lived in Europe for summers for over two decades, but stick to my dietary plan.
BUT, there's hope as far as the peanut butter goes. Go to the Container Store and buy the 1 ounce size, glass jars and stuff them with peanut butter. Then declare them at TSA. I've gotten them through each time that way.
The Container Store also has 3-ounce size, glass spice containers with the shaker tops. Just take the shaker top off and use the jar and other top. That way you can carry more peanut butter as the jar is larger. Three ounces is tops for TSA unless things have changed. The 1-ounce sized style glass jar is made only in 1 and 4 ounce size. I know this since I buy a lot of these jars and just went out looking for more last weekend for a friend who has a 3-year old that she has to travel overseas with this sumnmer. She needs to pack food for the child who has various, serious food allergies. Happy Travels!

I think the take-away(no pun intended) here is that each country has different "normals", as does each hotel: you may find what you need at the hotel-supplied breakfast. But of course you're in cities-you can always go out for breakfast! And, frankly, most breakfast meats are 99% fat with a tiny bit of protein amongst the nitrites. Don't jump down someone's throat when you've asked specifically about eggs and breakfast meats. Put some milk in your coffee and you have protein!

Author: nytraveler
Date: 05/28/2008, 08:34 pm

Well I live here in the US and we never have heavy, greasy egg and bacon breakfasts. Frankly, I don't know how to swallow that stuff at 7am. All I can manage is toast or cereal. And that goes for most people I know. (Brunch is different since you're actually having that at lunch time.)

But - to each is own.

If this type of breakfast is so important to you - check out what your hotel offers (some places have hard-boiled eggs - and in northern europe there are often buffets - but cold with meats and cheeses).



NYTraveler, what a crappy and condescending response.

Most people actually SHOULD eat some protein in the morning.

Connie, I have the same problem and have always been able to find some type of protein for breakfast in Europe.

We have had some of our best breakfasts in the smaller 2* hotels in Germany and Austria.

As others have stated, you will probably have a choice of yogurt, ham/salami and/or cheese with some amazing breads and rolls. Many of our hotels also served boiled eggs.

I found that many hotels will give you an idea of what they serve for breakfast on their website, so you might try that.

Peanut butter is available in lots of European supermarkets.

I have some protein with every meal, including breakfast. I, too, ask for a hard boiled egg or cheese to put on the usual bread at breakfast. I also take almond butter which to me is tastier than peanut butter.

I know all about energy crashes from skipping protein! Have fun.

I have the same problem as most of you describe and have Type II diabetes as well, so the coffee and croissant breakfast just isn't going to do it.

Aside from renting an apartment, the best choices in my experience are at business hotels rather than the kind of quaint hotel most of us want to seek out on vacation. This applies in the US as well, where country inns and B&Bs feature muffins, pancakes, and waffles, not a choices for me.

In France, Mercure hotels in particular have had good breakfasts in my experience, since they cater to international business travelers.

I have had good luck in French cafes ordering a "sandwich mixte" a ham and cheese sandwich, for breakfast. It makes for a nice combination of protein and carb.

Connie-I fly everyweek to Europe and have a flying friend(along with the daughter) who has to eat something with high protein or she turns into something from the Hell.Anyway,she has found that if she doesn't bring her peanut butter she always buy a ham/cheese baquette the night before and has that for breakfast. I have started the practice too and it works out great to start the day.

I have stayed at too many hotels and B/B's overseas that don't offer a real breakfast so fully understand what you need. Recently, I looked at the hotel in Athens that our crew was staying at and it was 34 Euros for room service breakfast of eggs,bacon,coffee and yoghurt-WHAT??? Granola bars,those Kraft cheese and cracker packs and peanut butter are lifesavers!

Connie, we have blood sugar issues in our family also. I never travel anywhere without nuts an protein bars. They are a lifesaver on trips - if not for breakfast then for a mid afternoon snack. That being said, the breakfasts we've found in Europe almost always include yogurt, if not cheese, meats, etc.

In France, the typical breakfast is a croissant, some rolls, often juice, sometimes yogurt, sometimes fruit. A lot depends on where you are staying. In Vienna, the Netherlands, and Germany you will find meats (such as ham), cheeses, and hard-cooked eggs. Those will also appear on buffets in France.

If you need protein, just pack good breakfast bars.

I'm sorry if I seemed condescending - but I object to the fact that someone says "eggs and breakfast meats like we do in the US". I'm in the US -as are my family and friends - and we don;t eat that way - and frankly I find egg and bacon breakfasts way too heavy and greasy.

There's nothing wrong with protein - but the OP specifically mentioned "eggs and breakfast meats".

Yes -most places you can get hard boiled eggs and many offer yogurt with cereals (NOT just sugary pastries - but very healthy cereals with lots of fiber, and many with protein).

Perhaps I was just responding to the OPs assumption that all Americans eat the way she does - which frankly is a heart attack on a plate - unless you're talking egg beaters and super low fat turkey sausage.

Look, all she said was eggs and breakfast meats NOT greasy bacon and sausage.

I think you assumed the worse about the poster and tried to teach her a lesson.

All conflict aside, the OP's dilemma is based on two suppositions:

a) She is confined to the hotel with no other source of sustenance and forced on a death march of sightseeing with only the hotel breakfast on board

and/or

b) She is travelling to places so remote (an ice floe, perhaps) that a slice of cheese, a cup of yogurt or handful of nuts is available only by packing in or airlift.

Not only does Europe have restaurants, supermarkets and minimarkets, it also has humans, whose physiological needs are identical to ours.
And a cafe au lait and croissant breakfast is a beautiful thing, more to be anticipated than dreaded.

If your hotel room has a minibar you'll have a fridge. Go shopping, buy what you need in a supermarket - meat, cheese, yoghurt - and take that down to breakfast.

*sigh* but as we all keep trying to say...she probably won't need to. Funnily enough we do have protein in Europe, even at breakfast time, in the vast majority of hotels.

Take/buy cans of sardines or tuna - very high in protein.

If it is a hotel breakfast buffet there is likely cheese, yogurt, possibly sliced meat set out.

There is no need to pack anything, rather purchase nuts, canned tuna, whatever after you arrive.

If there is a mini-frig, the idea of buying your own cheese, meat, yogurt is a good one.

If you have a coffee maker in the room, you can make 2 hard boiled eggs using that.

Peanut butter seems such a messy suggestion. Why not just eat nuts?

I thought that the "complimentary continental breakfast" with danish and donuts was more a domain of reasonably priced US motel chains than that of European hotels or inns.
Even at one low budget Etap Hotel in a god-forsaken industrial zone near Marseille airport they had a breakfast buffet including cheese and cold sausages for breakfast for €5 pP...

In Italy, six of our nine hotels offered ham, cheese, and boiled eggs for breakfast. One offered omelets and one offered scrambled eggs and bacon. All offered yogurt, milk, and bel paese. Several offered liver pate.

Most of our hotel rooms had refrigerators, which were mini bars or were formerly mini bars.

Back in 1983 when we visited Austria and stayed at budget end accommodations in villages and cities, we were always offered a hard roll, coffee, and jam for breakfast.

I don't know if that was the function of the times or the places we chose. These days we invariably see a more complete buffet.

Buffet breakfasts in hotels throughout Europe tend to offer choices adapted to all of the countries of Europe now, since everybody is traveling these days.

However, smaller hotels where items are brought to your breakfast table will generally cater to local tastes.

It is really not a problem to procure additional items that you need yourself.