All in the Family: Breakfast Edition

Eating together for my family at breakfast was often a practise reserved for special occasions such as Christmas and Easter mornings.

So imagine my surprise when I was awakened early one Saturday morning by my friend after attending a slumber party at her house the night before. I was introduced to a whole new world.

Not only do they clean together every Saturday, but they sit down for breakfast as a family as well.

Being an outsider didn't mean I was exempted from the process, after all, they treated me like family and as such, when at their home, I partake of meals like they do.

I sat down in sheer fascination, watching each family member discuss their weekly activities over sausages sliced and cooked with baked beans in tomato sauce, served with a side of what Jamaicans call Johnny cakes or fried dumplings and fried plantains, all washed down with tea or juice of your choice.

Bouts of laughter rang out as they had second and third helpings. I too was asked to share my story about classes and extra-curricular activities and I willingly obliged, in between bites of course.

Even though has never been the culture of my home, it was definitely a breath of fresh air to know that such a strong foundation of togetherness, communication and love, could be formed against the backdrop of tradition when it comes to indulging in the most important meal of the day.

I soon woke up and smelled the coffee when I discovered my friend was not alone in this tradition.

Sasha Pantry explained to Food that she also made a family event out of breakfast, discovering the food lover within her through delicious morning time offerings. "Ackee and saltfish or salt mackerel with fried dumplings were the best! Mommy always made it. I wasn't much of a food eater back then but I just loved breakfast, especially fried dumplings and ackee. Plus, Sunday morning was always a family breakfast right before going off to church," she revealed.

Zanya Henry too shared a similar breakfast tradition with her immediate and extended family, "My mother is a stickler for breakfast, and as such, it was a requirement to eat together every Sunday."

She continued, sharing an early breakfast moment she experienced while living with her mother, grandmother and cousins, "Growing up, breakfast was a tradition. Ackee and saltfish or fried egg, sunny side up with the yolk just a little soft and sausage with a lot of pepper, along with Captain's Bakery white hard dough bread laced with Anchor butter, Roma Cocoa tea on the side. My two cousins and I would eat breakfast together and while we enjoyed the food, we weren't big fans of tea. Sometimes we would throw some of it away in the sink and silly us, would leave evidence either right there in the sink or on the cup. You know what that meant? More Roma Cocoa for us, so over time, we got used to it and even started liking it."

Now that her extended family has moved on with their lives, her immediate family still keeps the wholesome breakfast tradition alive. "We still have to have breakfast together, because we lead very busy lives during the week. My career demands that I am away most of the time. My mother works six days a week, except Sunday, and my father works seven days, going in late on a Sundays, just to facilitate this family time. It is during this time that my mother, father, little sister and I catch up on what's going on in each other's lives. The menu remains the same and is always amazing!"

Well, there you have it. The family that eats breakfast together will grow even closer and have lasting memories forever.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com