The culinary world suffered a big loss the other day. Herb Peterson, the man who invented the Egg McMuffin, died.

In 1972, Peterson changed life as we know it by deciding that you could have a sandwich for breakfast. The greatest ideas seem so simple.

I didn’t plan on writing a tribute to Herb Peterson when I started out this week’s column. In fact, when I started writing, I had no idea who the man was.

All I knew was that I love breakfast, and I wanted to share that news with the world. Then Herb Peterson died and made me think even deeper about the morning meal.

With work and school both out a week or so ago because of Easter, Bridget and I got a chance to enjoy that rare treat – breakfast out.

I could honestly go out for breakfast every day if it fit into my schedule. I could never get sick of sitting at a diner counter with a cup of coffee and nice big plate of eggs or waffles or pancakes.

I could even enjoy breakfast out with just a muffin or a bagel or some toast and fruit. It must be something about having someone walking around ready to fill your coffee cup whenever you take a sip.

I don’t mind going out for a breakfast buffet, but that experience can’t match the full service treatment, especially at a real good local joint.

When you go to those places, you can always trust that you can get a heaping plate of food for just a few bucks. Your cholesterol count might go up a few points, but you will feel ready to start the day.

You just can’t get that kind of feeling from breakfast at home, even if you try. You can cook up a mess of eggs and meat and brew some coffee, but you will never feel as satisfied as you do when some sassy waitress brings you your food.

I think that’s why I don’t go all out for breakfast that often at home. I will make a big plate once in a while on the weekend, but I will mess up a little on one part as I hustle around the kitchen trying to cook everything at the same time.

Lucky for me, Maria doesn’t have a problem with keeping good cereals in the house. And by good cereals, I mean important kinds like Frosted Flakes, Trix, Cap’n Crunch and Fruit Loops.

She eats some kind of granola cereal that I like to call “sticks and berries” because it looks like she foraged in the woods for her food. I know I probably should eat something like that, but just can’t go through with it.

I will eat healthy sometimes by having Rice Krispies or Cheerios. I just think life is too short to eat bad cereal.

So I go for the good stuff when I can’t get out for a heap of eggs, a fluffy Belgian waffle or an something from McDonald’s. I really prefer their bacon, egg and cheese biscuit, but might have to get Egg McMuffin to honor Herb Peterson’s memory.

I just wish they had waitresses to fill my coffee for me. That’s the way breakfast should be.