Breakfast in Argentina is a no-frills affair. You’ll find locals typically eating one of two things: tostados (toast) or medialunas ("half-moons"), which are pastries similar to croissants but a smaller and sweeter. Of course, these are typically eaten with coffee.

While Brazilians enjoy some traditional breakfast foods — such as eggs, toast, cereal, and fresh fruit — locals usually pass on heavy or rich dishes featuring an abundance of meat, loads of cheese, and other things that could pass as dessert. Aside from lots of fruit, favorite dishes instead include pão d’água (bread that’s crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside), creamy polenta, and banana sponge cake. Breakfast is generally on the light side, because lunch is actually seen as the most important meal of the day.

In Burma (or Myanmar), a morning might start out with a plate of sticky fried rice topped with boiled yellow beans. This savory dish, called kaut nyin paung, is sometimes served with fried fish and a cup of green tea.

Congee (rice porridge) is a popular comfort food and breakfast item in China, as well as several other Asian countries. This savory porridge can be eaten plain or topped with anything from ground meat to squid. Another breakfast (or snack) option is bao or bao zi, fluffy soft dough buns that are steamed and stuffed with a variety of fillings (pork, beef, or vegetables).

A hearty bowl of oat-based porridge, called puuro, is a common breakfast in Finland, often served with milk, fresh or frozen berries, and a bit of butter.

A piece of baguette topped with butter and jam (known as a tartine) is a common breakfast in France. Breakfast pastries, such as croissants, are also often eaten with coffee or a glass of juice.