Breakfast meats (for nonvegetarians) such as bacon and sausages were traditionally not available in India and are still not popular, so there is no need for meat substitutes for breakfast. But milk and yogurt are often served for breakfast. Today most Indians (wherever they live) prefer to eat toast and cereal for breakfast, with a special Indian breakfast served on weekends, much like Westerners enjoy. Indians also serve foods similar to pancakes, crepes, and porridge for breakfast with one major exception—the food is savory and spicy instead of sweet and syrupy. In north India, Cheele or pude (similar to pancakes), and parathas and puri are the most popular breakfast items. In south India, idli (page 85) and dosas (page 83) are more popular for breakfast, although in the north they are served for lunch or dinner. When I visited south India recently, I was surprised that dosa was available only at breakfast. That goes to show that what we perceive as breakfast food is very much a regional tradition.
