Pehr Kalm, Swedish naturalist, during a visit of the 13 Colonies in 1749

“Among the Dutch breakfast is eaten at 7 o’clock; it consists of bread and butter with thin slices of dried beef and tea without milk, rarely coffee. They never put sugar into the cup, but take a small bit of it into their mouths whilst they drink.

Their dinner is buttermilk with bread, to which they sometimes add sugar, or fresh milk and a meat dish. During this meal they also make use of buttermilk to boil a thin kind of porridge, which tastes very sour, but not disagreeable. To each dinner they have a great salad, prepared with an abundance of vinegar and very little or no oil.

At supper, only grated cheese, bread and butter and milk is served.”