Burgers for Breakfast

Fast-food chains are responding to customer requests for lunch-like items well before noon.

Prevention.com, January 2006

JAN EICKMEIER

A USA Today story reported that more people are ordering lunch items for breakfast. In 2004 about 12.5% of fast-food diners ordered burgers for breakfast, compared to 7.5% in 2003. Sonic Drive-In, for example, reported that 36% of its sales before 11 a.m. are non-breakfast items.

Fast-food chains have caught on and are offering more lunch-like items for breakfast. Carls Jr. is offering a burger topped with a fried egg and ketchup. Chick-fil-A will be introducing chicken and cheese breakfast bagels and chicken-filled rolls spread with honey butter.

And in the drink department, early morning sales of Coca-Cola have exceeded coffee sales at the bigger burger chains. Eating lunch for breakfast is fine, says nutritionist Robyn Flipse—if the rest of the day's diet is nutritionally balanced.