What Is a Breakfast Bagel?

A breakfast bagel is a common type of meal to start the day. Many people choose to eat a bagel for breakfast because it is easy to prepare, can accommodate lots of different toppings for various tastes, and is also great to eat on the go. Some of the most common toppings for a breakfast bagel include butter or cream cheese, but many people make bagel sandwiches using meat, eggs, and cheese for a slightly more filling meal. There are a number of different types of bagels as well, from plain, to multigrain, to cinnamon raisin, as well as more savory flavors such as onion and garlic.

Plain bagels are some of the most common options for breakfast, since they can be paired with any type of topping. For people who want to cut back on their simple carb intake, or increase their fiber, a whole wheat or multigrain bagel is another option. Onion and garlic bagels, or "everything" bagels, are a lot more flavorful and include these herbs and spices baked right into the bagel. Cinnamon raisin bagels are sweeter alternatives, and some people also prefer egg bagels, which are made with egg in the dough. These are just a few of the most common flavors for a breakfast bagel.

More important than the flavor of the breakfast bagel itself, however, is the topping. Butter and cream cheese are the most common, often served on a toasted bagel, though it may be eaten plain as well. Peanut butter or jelly are also frequently spread on bagels. Some people like to eat cream cheese with lox, a type of thinly sliced smoked salmon, and typically served with capers. In addition to these simple toppings, it is also common to make a bagel sandwich for breakfast.

A breakfast bagel sandwich is a good way to eat a filling meal as well as to get a lot of protein in the morning, though keep in mind that these sandwiches can be quite high in fat depending on how they are prepared. Egg and cheese bagel sandwiches are popular, and many people add meat such as bacon, ham, or sausage to the bagel sandwich as well. Bagel sandwiches may also be eaten for lunch; many people will prepare a sandwich using deli meat, lettuce and tomato, and a spread such as mustard or mayonnaise, and then simply eat the bagel as a midday meal.