Ask. Volunteer a list of what you have on hand, such as eggs, bacon, granola, juice, coffee (milk?). Tell them that you are heading for the grocery store and will get whatever they like.

You can't go wrong with a continental style breakfast.

Your granola, a selection of fresh fruit or a fresh fruit salad, a choice of breakfast breads like bagels, croissants or muffins, juice and coffee.

If you want to be more elaborate you could add, jams, cream cheese, smoked salmon and a sweet bread like banana bread.

Easy on you and a nice variety for your guests to choose from.

And then you get someone who says that they only eat Cheerios...

Breakfast is such a personal meal, isn't it?

Sharon is right, a continental breakfast is always acceptable to most people, and you could have some eggs in the fridge, they'd be fast to fix if someone did want some.

But, as noted above, I'd ask. My brother would starve before he'd eat an egg, and I like them quite a lot. I'm picky about how they are cooked, but I eat eggs very frequently. My mother will only eat the whites. So, you never know unless you ask.

Annie

You can ask, but if your guests are like mine, they say "oh, I'll eat anything" because they don't want to trouble you. Then you find out after they arrive they they are lactose intolerant, or have celiac, or are vegan, or only drink decaf tea or Coke Zero.

Our last houseguest said any kind of cereal was fine, so we offered him raisin bran. He ate this for two days, then DH brought Cheerios home which the HG said he preferred. Turned out he was diabetic and should not have eaten the raisins.

I've taken to mild threats with shy HGs. If they say they eat anything, I tell them I have fermented fish for breakfast every morning. That usually gets them to state their likes and dislikes.

Cheryl

For my HG, I put the plate down and yell "breakfast".

Other HG's I really stress over because most will say, as already mentioned, "whatever you are making is fine". So I will have a sweet and savory offering which results in leftovers.

I have been emailing or phoning to verify the visit details and I ask "what do you normally eat for your morning meal?".

What I normally eat for breakfast is not what I prefer; i.e. I normally have fresh blueberries, granola, and yogurt, although lately I have a biscotti with tea before the granola. I can eat the granola at my desk, and so it is a convenience but not a preference for what I would eat at home.

Perhaps a better question is "What do you normally have for brunch?" I have much more variety in what I eat for brunch, but most of it does includes eggs of some sort. For Kevin, breakfast and brunch both mean eggs although I doubt he eats eggs on weekdays.

I really like Trader Joe's scones for a breakfast/brunch that I do not have to cook. I frequently make pancakes or waffles, but they have egg in them, as do crepes.

If someone is diabetic, then Cheerios are worse than Raisin Bran, as Cheerios have a G.I. of 74 (high) and RB has a G.I. of 61 (medium). Raisins by themselves may be bad, but mixed with bran, they should be okay. Cheerios are made with sugar, as are most processed cereal except for ones like Shredded Wheat.

Lars

Here is a link that might be useful: Raisin Bran Glycemic Index

I say ask. If they are lactose intolerant, or have celiac, or are vegan, or only drink decaf tea or Coke Zero or whatever and won't say (or didn't bring their own Coke Zero) then it's THEIR problem and not yours. Keep the phone handy for allergic reactions if they're that arrogant and stupid. My old GF and I had different drink likes. She only drank Pepsi from the time she awoke until 8 PM, after 8 it was caffeine-free Pepsi. I only drank sugar free. We both bought it several 12 pks at a time so when I went to her place, I brought my own and she did the same when she came here or when we were going somewhere. Also cheaper than buying single cans.

If it's someone you really like and they won't say, are there friends, children, parents or someone you could ask to find out?

Have a continental option. Toast and coffee, peanut butter and jelly. That is if you eat these things. It's silly to buy a lot of things on speculation and then have it go to waste. Maybe take them or one with you shopping and see what they'll eat. Or go out to breakfast someplace and see what they eat.

Can you chat with them ahead of time and ask what they had for breakfast. Maybe they're not breakfast eaters. Or chat about different things people have for breakfast, and work in what's your favorite or something.

Frankly I wouldn't obsess over it too much. Could always offer them my cousin's menu consisting of two items: Take it or leave it. Missing a meal won't kill many people in the US and Canada.

Oh, this is a big deal with me. We have lots of house guests, so I have developed good solutions.

Breakfast is indeed the problem, because, as others have noted:

1) Breakfast is so personal -- that's why it's the meal where people are least likely to want any variety in their diet. I.e., many, perhaps most, people like to have the same breakfast every day. And it's also the meal where you feel least like doing the we're-both-trying-to-be-polite ballet, but guests think they are being easier (when in fact they are just driving you crazy) by unhelpfully answering questions like, "Orange or cranberry juice?" with "Either is fine." Just please give me an answer already so I can pour it and move on!

2) EVERYONE always says, "Oh, I eat everything!" And it is NEVER true. Some of the things my "I eat everything!" guests have refused to eat include: fish, lettuce, mustard, whole wheat bread, olives, mushrooms, peppers, and a lot of other things that seem pretty basic to me. I mean, it's fine that they don't eat stuff -- but they don't really mean it when they say that they eat everything. The problem is that what they really mean is "I eat everything that is in MY house."

The other thing they say is, "I'm happy to have whatever you're having!" Well, guess what? I'm likely to be having leftover Chinese food. Or a plate of odds and ends that might contain leftover roasted vegetables, some salad, and, to get some protein in there, a piece of gefilte fish or a few pieces of herring. Want that waiting for you when you come in for breakfast when you're visiting me, because you said, "I'll just have whatever you're having"? I didn't think so! :-)

I have two very good approaches that both work. One is for when you have people coming for long term, and one is for when you have a lot of people coming for shorter term.

1) If someone is coming for more than a day or two, I ask them in advance, "What do you like to eat for breakfast -- and DON'T tell me, 'Oh, just anything' -- breakfast is such a personal meal. Do you usually eat bagels? Eggs? Yogurt? Something else?" The trick is asking what they usually eat and making a laugh out of it (you can threaten leftover Chinese if you must!). People may feel they are being divas if they list their likes and dislikes, but honestly, they are doing their hosts a huge favor.

2) When it's not a situation where you are in touch in advance (like, say, you're hosting people you don't know), or when it is a big group, the opposite works best. This advice was handed down from my mother and her mother before her. Just put a bunch of stuff that most people like out and have it waiting for them. Don't say anything, don't ask anything, just do it. I come to the kitchen ahead of time and put out dishes, napkins, cups, glasses, and silverware, cereals, yogurt, bagels, cream cheez, butter, peanut butter, coffee, tea, and juice. Maybe hard boiled eggs if they are on hand, maybe some fruit if it's convenient. Probably no one is going to eat ALL the choices, but it's a lot easier to put out lots of stuff and let them choose than to try to ask them all.

If I'm in the mood, I might ask, "Can I make you some eggs? I make great omelets!" And when I'm really into it, I make an apple pancake, waffles, pancakes, or something else special. But I just make it because I feel like it, without asking first, and let them eat it or not.

What gellchom said, exactly.

To bad I never go anywhere where the host cooks and or cares. I would be a great house guest.

I like Creme Brulee French Toast, here is the recipe, would you like me to shop and make it for everyone?

Otherwise, no straight up eggs, but any (homemade or artisan) bread is wonderful as is breakfast casseroles but no mushrooms ever including canned soups, oj please, thank you, and meat is good as is all fruit except figs, I don't like those. Are those strawberries organic?
Coffee, thank you. Is that half and half ? I don't usually take artificial creamer. Is that sugar raw?

This is a great thread, as I just confirmed that 4 of my college friends and 2 spouses will be visiting me the last week of July. Naturally, I'm already thinking about what to cook while they are here. (So much more fun than thinking about the grant I'm writing or the work I have to finish on the house before they arrive!)

Gellchom, I like your second option. I think it will accommodate a variety of tastes and allow us to have a nice breakfast on the deck, then hit the road for the Maine coast in a timely way.

The other thing that happens is the HG's don't eat breakfast at all. Don't be surprised if that happens - I know plenty of people like that. I'm not one of them - I love a good breakfast. Bumblebeez, you can come over any time!

Sally

If asked I don't eat green peppers or lima beans. I will just slide them to the side of the plate if you cook them for everyone else. Now here is my house with house guests. Raven fire up the grill on the deck you have bacon and sausage. Christy the bowl in the bottom of the fridge has dough, roll it and the biscut cutter is in the second draw. Josh start scrambling eggs. Tony cut the vegs and leave some size on the mushrooms. Listen everyone I need a head count for oatmeal. Elaine cut a bowl of strawberries and put them on the table.