Learn Dutch: Eet jij vaak een bord havermout als ontbijt? - Do you often eat a plate of oatmeal for breakfast?

In Dutch, when you use a measure or container word (like een bord, meaning a plate) followed by the substance it holds (havermout), you simply put the two nouns right next to each other. You do not use a preposition like van (of). This is the standard Dutch way to express quantities.

Why does the sentence use als ontbijt when the English translation says "for breakfast"?

While English speakers eat things "for" a meal, Dutch conceptualizes it as eating something "as" a meal. Because of this difference, you must use als (as) instead of voor (for) when talking about your meals, such as als ontbijt (for breakfast) or als lunch (for lunch).

Why does the adverb vaak come exactly where it does in this sentence?

In a yes/no question, the verb and subject are inverted (Eet jij). Adverbs of time and frequency, like vaak (often), typically land right after the subject in this structure, placing them just before the direct object (een bord havermout).

Does the container rule change if I add an adjective, like "a plate of warm oatmeal"?

No, the zero-preposition rule still applies perfectly. You just attach the adjective directly to the substance noun, resulting in een bord warme havermout. The container and the described substance still sit side-by-side without van.