Close
Photo:
Getty Images / Allrecipes
When we think back to the Kennedy era in the White House, many of us think of elegance, tradition, and a family that once captivated the nation.
Even to this day, the country’s fascination with the Kennedys hasn’t faded, with every little glimpse into their daily lives contributing to their lasting legacy. As one of America’s most beloved first families, the Kennedys were the epitome of class—even when it came to their meals. But despite their status, their food choices were surprisingly simple and unpretentious, especially at breakfast.
What the Kennedys Ate for Breakfast
First Lady Jackie Kennedy was known for her famously minimalist diet, possibly due to her notoriously picky palate. Every morning, she enjoyed breakfast in bed—a glamorous scene, yes—but the offering was very simple. According to Vogue, her tray usually included toast with honey, orange juice, and coffee with skim milk.
President John F. Kennedy, on the other hand, preferred a heartier start to his day—and he stuck with the same breakfast routine for decades.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
JFK’s morning meal always included eggs, either poached or soft-boiled, alongside toast. It seems the bread selection for the toast was switched up over the years, although a special note of “pepperidge white toast” (a.k.a Pepperidge Farm white bread) has been found in Jackie’s handwriting. The toast was served with butter and marmalade, rather than jelly or jam.
The President also enjoyed a side of crisp bacon, although it had to be oven-broiled rather than fried. In a hand-written meal plan delivered by Jackie Kennedy to the family’s personal chef in 1958, she specified, “Mr. K can eat nothing fried,” and emphasized this request by underlining “oven broiled” before the word bacon.
To round out the meal, JFK would have a glass of orange juice and a cup of coffee.
There were special occasions when he deviated from his routine, and that’s when a breakfast favorite was on the menu: the White House’s famous from-scratch waffles. Served hot with melted butter and maple syrup, the fluffy waffles were impossible to resist.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
JFK's Last Meal
From what we can tell, JFK ate the same meal every day until his last. His final breakfast served on the morning of Nov. 22, 1963, has been documented in history books—with slightly more detail than usual.
“The President’s breakfast was ordered by his valet, which told us that he would want [a] five-minute egg, boiled, crisp bacon, orange juice, fresh, [and] coffee with hot milk,” reported Marvin Love, who took JFK’s order for breakfast that morning. “He wanted hot milk with [a] preference to cream. Toast with butter on the side, and he particularly wanted orange marmalade.”
Although his life was tragically cut short, JFK’s morning routine remains a small but telling glimpse into the man behind the presidency. His breakfast—simple, classic, and unchanging—reflects the legacy of a leader whose influence is still around today.
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Tell us why!
Other
Submit
