Grits are a food made from boiled cornmeal. Hominy grits are a type of grits made from hominy – corn that has been treated with an alkali in a process called nixtamalization with the pericarp removed. Grits are often served with other flavorings as a breakfast dish. Grits can be either savory or sweet, with savory seasonings being more common. The dish originated in the Southern United States but now is available nationwide. Grits are popular as the dinner entrée shrimp and grits, served primarily in the South. The word "grits" is derived from the Old English word [[Grit (grain), meaning "coarse meal".