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# UK breakfast habits – AHDB
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/uk_breakfast_habits_ahdb_1206160807/
- Published: 2016-12-06T09:05:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-15T14:42:13.000Z
- Description: A Toluna QuickSurveys poll of 2,000 people in the UK found 65% eat breakfast at the table on weekdays and 73% at weekends, while a quarter skip breakfast some days. Half start with grains, cereals or oats, and 24.3% with toast and a topping.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Food, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

We’ve long been told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day – but how much do people actually listen? And when people are eating breakfast, in order to have a healthy start to the day, do they choose something filling or go for a convenient option? We find out:

## To breakfast or not to breakfast?

### To breakfast…

**65% of people eat breakfast at the table.**

A survey by Toluna QuickSurveys on UK breakfast habits surveyed 2,000 people, and the majority of respondents said that they sat down to breakfast every morning. An additional 19% said they rushed through breakfast when getting ready for work, or while looking after children. This is backed up by a Statista study on the changing breakfast habits of 2016, which noted that 22% of its respondents either had breakfast on the go, or breakfast out of the home.

On a weekend, the figures of people sitting at the table for breakfast increase slightly, with 73% of respondents eating at the table.

### Not to breakfast…

**25% of people don’t eat breakfast every day.**

A quarter of the respondents to the Toluna QuickSurveys study admitted to not eating breakfast every day. Nearly 5% of people even said they didn’t eat breakfast at all.

### Choice of breakfast

Cereals, muesli and porridge comes out on top! 50.1% of the Toluna QuickSurveys respondents chose to start the day with grains, cereals and [rolled oats](http://www.wholegraingoodness.com/guides/oats/?ref=foodconsumer.org) – a healthy start with slow-release energy.

Toast with a topping followed, with 24.3% of respondents starting the day with this as a breakfast.

A cooked breakfast, whether it be a full English, eggs or fish followed at 7.1%.

5.65% of respondents began the day with fruit and/or yogurt, 2% with pastries or a bagel, 2% just had a drink and 1.8% begin their day with breakfast bars and biscuits.

The results of the Toluna QuickSurveys research tie-in with the Statista study, which discovered that 65% of respondents choose to make healthier choices, which could include grains and cereals. 26% of respondents had a hot breakfast (which could include cooked breakfast or toast with a topping).

**Sources**

[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35595530](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35595530?ref=foodconsumer.org)

[https://www.quicksurveys.com/blog/1232/uncategorized/work-pressures-impact-on-brits-breakfast-habits/](https://www.quicksurveys.com/blog/1232/uncategorized/work-pressures-impact-on-brits-breakfast-habits/?ref=foodconsumer.org)

[https://www.statista.com/statistics/539556/great-britain-ireland-changing-breakfast-habits-weekdays-survey/](https://www.statista.com/statistics/539556/great-britain-ireland-changing-breakfast-habits-weekdays-survey/?ref=foodconsumer.org)