A continental breakfast is a type of meal offering common in American hotels and restaurants. Continental breakfasts are characterized by having traditionally light food items that are easy to prepare. A continental breakfast usually consists of foods such as toast, muffins, pastries, yogurt, and coffee. The term “continental” is believed to derive from the idea that these breakfast items were reminiscent of foods enjoyed by people of mainland western Europe. Many modern continental breakfasts, however, have evolved to include more than these foods.