At the crack of dawn, the sun begins its ascent above the horizon, signaling the start of a new day and igniting your morning stomach rumbles. You race to the kitchen, get yourself a nice big bowl and fill it to the brim with milk and your favorite cereal. For most people in the United States, this is what a typical breakfast looks like; however, when it comes to international morning cuisine, meals range far and wide from kimchi in Korea to lentils in India. By sharing this list of continental breakfasts, my goal is for you to discover that a diverse realm of morning meals exists beyond that of Cheerios and skim milk.

1. France

If you think, "baguette" when you think of France, you're exactly right. Breakfasts aren't huge here, but you can find Frenchmen slathering their bread with a variety of jams and jellies...and let's not forget Nutella.

2. Russia

Having been raised in a Russian household, I can say that we pretty much eat anything for breakfast; from blini (crepes) to caviar, Kasha (buckwheat in English) to kielbasa and butter with rye bread, the Russian breakfast is filling and provides a good start to the day.

3. Japan

Not getting enough of those Omega-3s? With a breakfast whose icon is fish, a morning meal in Japan is sure to supply you with droves of this essential fatty acid.

4. Germany

Are you one of those people with a ravenous appetite in the morning? Or maybe you're just indecisive? Well Germany's got your back. A typical German breakfast consists of a spread of foods from meat and cheese to bread and vegetables.

5. Turkey

If you're into eating an array of unique flavors in the morning, then you might be a huge fan of the Turkish morning routine. Just look at that image!

6. Israel

As someone who has visited Israel for an extensive period of time, I can attest to the fact that the tomato-egg fusion of shakshuka is a staple of Israeli breakfasts. A delicious, healthy and easy meal to prepare, shakshuka is surely a great way to start the day.

7. Poland

Donuts for breakfast anyone? In Poland, jelly donuts are a breakfast favorite and are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.

8. Italy

In Italy, breakfast isn't really considered the most important meal of the day. Usually, Italians will sip on a cappuccino and enjoy a small pastry on the side. Nonetheless, the Italians are experts in the craft of espresso and pastry-making, so your morning meal is sure to be delicious.

9. Pakistan

Are you into delicious bread, spicy curry, and fresh, hot sweets? Then the classic Pakistani breakfast of halwa poori is perfect for you.

10. Netherlands

Unleash your inner child with this morning meal: toast slathered with Nutella or peanut butter, topped with a blanket of sprinkles.

11. Switzerland

Like the German spread, the typical Swiss breakfast provides a buffet of items. And, if you're ever having trouble deciding what to eat, go for the cheese (Swiss, of course!)

12. Thailand

Fried and spicy food for breakfast might not be everyone's thing, but if you'd like a jolt in the morning to get you going, a punch of curry ought to do the trick.

13. England

The word "hearty" and English breakfast go hand-in-hand. The traditional fry-up consists of beans, bacon, sausage, fried egg, fried mushrooms and toast. You definitely won't be hungry for the rest of the day with this meal.

14. Venezuela

Meat, bread and cheese are the elements that compose a Venezuelan breakfast. A buttery, savory Arepa bursting with cheese, egg, meat, avocado, chorizo (you name it) and grilled to perfection! Now who wouldn't want that?

15. Mexico

If you're a fan of Mexican flavors, chilaquiles are a fiesta of tortilla in mole with eggs that are sure to satisfy your morning appetite.

16. Andalusia, Spain

Not a huge breakfast person but still need a quick bite of something to get you going? The Andalusian morning snack is just what you're looking for: a minimalist combination of bread, olive oil and salt, it is both simple and temporarily filling.

17. Bulgaria

I don't know about you, but I'm a flaky pastry kind of breakfast gal. The Bulgarian "Banitza" is a morning favorite made of filo dough, eggs, and feta cheese.

18. China

In China, a thin, cylindrical doughnut known as "youtiao" is a popular morning dish that is meant to be eaten with soy milk. Some claim that youtiao is more delicious soaked in the milk.

19. Philippines

A breakfast in the Philippines consists of rice alongside meat, spam or really anything else. This meal is sure to fill your stomach for a long time and provide you with plenty of protein.

20. India

Poori masala is a scrumptious breakfast dish made of vegetables, mashed potatoes, spices and fried bread.

21. Singapore

Are you a porridge-for-breakfast person? Well, then Singapore's Congee dish will suit you well. Congee is a more, shall we say, exotic porridge, made with cuttle fish, pork or eggs.

22. Korea

Typically, Koreans eat the same meals round the clock and it wouldn't be unusual for you to discover kimchi, tofu, pickled vegetables and beef at the breakfast table.

23. Morocco

If you're the kind of person who loves to enjoy bread with a variety of different things and you love eggs, the Moroccan breakfast is your go-to.

24. Costa Rica

Gallo-pinto is a morning dish composed of rice and beans, making is both hearty, healthy and easy to whip up!

25. Iran

A filling, nutritious stew of wheat, lentils, meat, and spices, "haleem" is a hefty bowl of breakfast that knocks your bowl of Cheerios out of the picture.

26. Egypt

What's better than a simple hearty breakfast? In Egypt, "Ful medames" is usually consumed in the morning and is a concoction of beans, olive oil, parsley and veggies.

27. Greece

The Greeks enjoy a variety of savory pies, such as the well-known "spanakopita" spinach pie. I can say that I ate my fair share of this delight when I traveled to Greece a few years back.

28. French Polynesia

If you ever travel to French Polynesia, whether it be Tahiti or Bora Bora, you will inevitably encounter the fresh breakfast mixture of raw fish and coconut milk.

29. Iceland

During my trip to Iceland, I joined the natives in eating Skyr every single day for breakfast. Skyr resembles yogurt by taste, but because of the way it's manufactured, it is technically classified as a cheese. Skyr comes in a variety of flavors as well, so you have plenty to choose from!

30. Colombia

In Colombia, coffee alongside a delicious cheese bread "pandebono," is the typical morning fare.

31. Brazil

The Brazilians enjoy a simple, lean breakfast of bread, fruit and coffee. Easy, but tasty!

After reading this list, I hope you've gained an understanding of just how different the standard breakfast is in various countries. Perhaps you might ditch the cereal and try something knew in the morning.