Marilyn Monroe’s Go-To Breakfast Was Called ‘Bizarre’ Even in Her Day

It’s no secret that Marilyn Monroe continues to inspire women with her timeless fashion and effortless style. However, not too many of her modern-day admirers are familiar with her go-to breakfast recipe — and it turns out that just might be for the best.

The legendary Hollywood starlet explained in a circa 1952 interview with the now-defunct Pageant magazine that many people considered her eating habits “bizarre.” But according to the archived conversation — which has since been republished on Into the Gloss — the superstar actress saw nothing odd about her meals of choice. See what you think after reading Marilyn Monroe’s breakfast recipe below.

Before I take my morning shower, I start warming a cup of milk on the hot plate I keep in my hotel room. When it’s hot, I break two raw eggs into the milk, whip them up with a fork, and drink them while I’m dressing. I supplement this with a multi-vitamin pill, and I doubt if any doctor could recommend a more nourishing breakfast for a working girl in a hurry.

Wow — there’s quite a bit to unpack here. First of all, considering how famous Marilyn Monroe was (and still is), we would’ve assumed that she’d opt for a breakfast dish that was a bit more on the fancier side than this … beverage. Or perhaps we would’ve thought that she’d kick off her day with some healthy fruits and vegetables for a boost. But even though Marilyn Monroe’s breakfast hack doesn’t exactly sound scrumptious, it is worth keeping in mind that it does contain quite a bit of protein.

As you may know, protein can help you feel fuller for a longer period of time. And when you have a busy schedule — like Marilyn Monroe clearly did back in the day — you obviously don’t want to show up to work hungry. That said, we do have some questions about the food safety of all this protein. For instance: How do you know when the milk is hot enough to add the eggs? Also, why would you drink eggs when you can eat them instead? Finally, how can you be so sure that you won’t get salmonella before lunch? 

All in all, it’s no shock that Marilyn Monroe’s breakfast recipe hasn’t grown much in popularity since her time in the spotlight. But just because you might not want to try her trick doesn’t mean that you can’t experiment a little with your eggs in the morning: Try putting cayenne in your scrambled eggs or creating cheesy bacon frittata bites the next time you’re ready for something new. 

Sometimes just a little cooking goes a long way!