Pune on My Plate: Why men never miss breakfast while women might; it’s both science and psychology

A 2015 study published in the journal Appetite found that men remain hungrier longer after a meal, while women feel full faster and experience stronger appetite suppression. Simply put: the man’s hunger clocks tick early and loud.

Why men never miss breakfast (Express Photo)

‘Not just food, but an emotional anchor’
“Men process hunger as an alert signal — almost like a biological wake-up call,” says clinical psychologist Dr Priyadarshan Dumbre. “That first cup of tea or a plate of poha isn’t just food — it is an emotional anchor before the day’s chaos.” Women, he adds, “often override that signal. Their emotional radar scans many things at once — kids, work, the day ahead. Hunger is delayed, not denied.”

Sports nutritionist Avanti Damle explains that physiology fuels this difference. “Men generally have higher lean muscle mass and testosterone, which boost metabolism. After seven to eight hours of sleep, glycogen levels are low, so men feel hungry sooner,” she says. “Women, who multitask from the moment they wake, often delay eating. But skipping meals can disturb hormones, leading to mood swings, brain fog, and fatigue.”

For many men, breakfast is non-negotiable. Sunny Shah, a 40-year-old businessman, admits, “If I don’t get my poha and chai by 8.30 am, I can’t think straight.” His wife laughs and adds, “I’m making breakfast, packing the kids’ tiffin, replying to office messages. By the time I sit, the tea’s gone cold.”

Nilesh Pawar, a salesman, swears by a heavy start. “I have tried skipping breakfast like my wife, but my body just will not cooperate,” he says. “A plate of poha, dosa, upma, or on special days puri-sabzi keeps me steady till lunch.”

Others echo the sentiment in their own way. Siddhant, a college student, says, “Even if it is just tea and bread, I can’t leave home without breakfast.” His classmate, Meenakshi, shares, “I sometimes run late for lectures, but I’d rather be late than hungry.” Kiran Saini, a schoolteacher, finds balance in light meals: “Idli and dosa keep me going till lunch. If I skip, I feel it in my energy.”

At city cafés, managers see the same pattern. “Men order heavier breakfasts — misal, omelettes, upma — while women prefer lighter or later meals,” says Sadashiv S, manager at Roopali. “By 9 am, it’s mostly men finishing their first meal of the day.”

‘Men eat to get going; women get going before they eat’
Holistic health coach Twinkle Porwal, whose clients include both men and women, has a scientific take on this. “When women come to us, they give two main reasons for skipping breakfast – one is some diet which prescribes them to eat less, and the other most common reason is paucity of time,” she said. Porwal explained that often women have to juggle between many chores, and trying to cook something special for themselves becomes difficult for them.

“But skipping breakfast is not recommended,” she said. An ideal breakfast, Porwal said, should be protein-heavy with a good helping of vegetables and some fat.

Psychologist Tejal Kulkarni sums it up: “Men eat to get going; women get going before they eat. Both are feeding something deeper — men their energy, women their multitasking.”

And somewhere in Pune’s kitchens, that difference quietly continues. But whether served at dawn or after the school run, breakfast, in the end, nourishes more than the body — it restores a little order in the morning chaos.

Breakfast under Rs 200: Pune’s best morning deals 

Poha may be every Punekar’s unofficial love language— but since every home has already mastered its magic, it’s off our list for now. Instead, here are five breakfast favourites worth stepping out for in the city. We have picked places where you can enjoy breakfast for rates between Rs 100 and Rs 200 per person.

1. Poha and chai – Amhi Pohekar, Narayan Peth 

The city’s classic comfort plate: soft, lemony poha with peanuts and hot chai. Rs 50

2. Misal pav – Bedekar Tea Stall, Narayan Peth

Fiery, flavour-packed, and iconic. Every spoonful is pure Pune nostalgia. Rs 90

3. Dosa/idli–sambar – Vaishali, Fergusson College Road

Fluffy, filling, and fast; the evergreen student breakfast. Rs 95-110

4. Grilled sandwich – Roopali, FC Road

Crispy, buttery triangles stuffed with veggies and cheese — breakfast meets indulgence. Rs 90

5. Sabudana khichdi – Verandah, Kothrud 

Simple, nutty, and satisfying. The go-to for light, wholesome mornings. Rs 85

6. Thalipeeth, Shabree, Deccan

Savour a desi power breakfast. Rs 114

7. Upma and filter coffee – Yumma Swamy, Camp and Mukundnagar

An Indian staple that is light, aromatic, and budget-friendly. Rs 100

8. Omelettes/pav bhurji – Goodluck, Deccan

The best of 3-in-1, bun-maska-omelette. Rs 175

Neha Rathod is an intern with The Indian Express