The word breakfast came from the idea of breaking the fast from the last evening's meal. The saying "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" is widely believed to have come from the invention and marketing of breakfast cereals in the 19th century. Once this trend started, the egg and pork producers (bacon) got on the bandwagon, touting the importance of eating protein in the morning.
John Harvey Kellogg was a physician, nutritionist, inventory, medical missionary, and religious zealot and is considered the true pioneer of the breakfast industry. He believed that eating biologically would solve indigestion. Caleb Jackson (grape nuts) and Dr. Graham (the graham cracker) believed Americans' meat-centric and over-spiced diets led them to carnal sins.
He opened the famed Battle Creek Sanitarium in 1907. He believed in what he called "biological living," with fresh air, more exercise, more baths, and a simpler and a vegetarian diet. He was in this venture with his brother Will Kellogg, who actually developed corn flakes, and the Kellogg company. . The Kellogg brothers did not have the same vision. In the 1940s, Will Kellogg broke away from his brother and started Post Cereals which invented and marketed the sugar coating for cereals.
Interestingly, before this, all began breakfast wasn't a particularly important meal. People didn't have specific "breakfast" foods and ate what was left over from dinner the night before. Before the industrial revolution, most people worked on farms. They ate their first meal when it was convenient during their farm work schedule. As jobs moved from the farm to the offices and factories, more food sources were required that were lighter and more convenient.
Although there is no scientific evidence that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It is believed that a balanced meal in the morning supports overall nutrition, metabolism, productivity, and controls weight.
From an Ayurvedic perspective, eating breakfast, especially a warm one, will ground an active Vata dosha (cold, dry, light, and unstable) and bring a need for groundedness and focus. For many, breakfast consists of a cold smoothie, dry cereal or toast, or some health bar, increasing the Vata energetics. This does not mean that these are wrong in any way, but Ayurveda does consider not only your constitution (Prakruti) and current state of health (Vikruti) along with the time of year, current weather, health imbalances, etc. For instance, during the summer heat, a cooler type of breakfast can be warranted. A warmer and Spicer breakfast might be beneficial during the fall and winter months. For me, a warm, cooked bowl of grain cereal is the most satisfying and helpful to stay balanced.
