FAQs
We do not eat lunch until 3:00 pm, which is a long time to wait to eat if you eat breakfast before class at 7:30 am! Dinner is pretty late too, usually around 9:00 pm. The lunches are the heaviest meal of the day, while the dinners are much lighter.
What are typical mealtimes in Spain? ›
What Does A Spanish Day Look Like?
- Desayuno ( breakfast 6 - 8 am ) ...
- Almuerzo ( 2nd breakfast 11am ) ...
- Comida ( lunch 2 - 3.30 pm ) ...
- Siesta ( lunch siesta 1-3 pm ) ...
- Merienda ( brunch 5 - 7 pm ) ...
- Cena ( dinner 10 - 12 pm ) ...
- Fiesta ( fiesta 12pm )
What is the food and eating habits in Spain? ›
Very fond of both fish and shellfish, Spaniards are among the world's largest consumers of seafood. Legumes, especially lentils and chickpeas, also form an important part of the Spanish diet. Spaniards frequently drink wine and beer with their meals.
Why do many people incorrectly believe that Spaniards eat their dinner so late at night? ›
Spaniards are living in the wrong time zone, and have been for more than 70 years. So why are Spaniards living behind their geographic time zone? In 1940, General Francisco Franco changed Spain's time zone, moving the clocks one hour forward in solidarity with Nazi Germany.
What is the Spanish eating routine? ›
These Spanish mealtimes typically include a light bite and coffee first thing in the morning, a more substantial "second breakfast," a hearty lunch, a mid-afternoon snack or merienda, tapas or an aperitif, and a light dinner. What is a normal Spanish breakfast? Many people in Spain actually eat two breakfasts!
Why do they eat so late in Spain? ›
Spain's late dining is attributed to various factors, including a workday that extends longer and later than in most European countries, with businesses often closing for a few hours in the afternoon.
What is the average diet in Spain? ›
The Mediterranean diet. Spain is one of the leading exponents of the Mediterranean diet, which is based on olive oil, fresh vegetables, and other fresh seasonal food. This healthy, flavourful tradition has earned Spanish cuisine UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status.
What are the rules for eating in Spain? ›
Spanish Etiquette for Dining
- Allow the host to begin eating first: Don't dive into your dish before the host. ...
- Use your eating utensils: You will be given a fork, a spoon, and a knife to use while eating. ...
- Keep your hands visible: Place your hands on either side of the plate when not eating.
What is a Spanish meal structure? ›
At home, Spanish meals contain one to two courses and a dessert. The content of this meal is usually a soup dish, salad, a meat or a fish dish and a dessert such as fruit, yoghurt or something sweet. Tapas may also be typically served before or during lunch.
What is the biggest meal of the day in Spain? ›
Lunch is the mid-day meal, or la comida as it is called in Spain, and it is the largest meal of the day. It usually comes with multiple courses, eaten between 1:30 and 3:30 pm.
In addition, Spanish workers typically work 11-hour days, from 9am to 8pm. With dinner at 9pm and a couple of hours of TV, they tend not to get to bed before midnight.
Is hunger a problem in Spain? ›
Despite a rise in food availability following the post-lean season harvests, the number of those affected remains alarmingly high. The November 2023 Cadre Harmonisé indicates that 2.3 million people face acute food insecurity, despite the increase in food availability after the harvest season.
What is the most important meal for Spaniards? ›
Most Spaniards don't rely on a heavy breakfast to start their day, because the most important meal is definitely lunch.
What are the eating rituals in Spain? ›
Spaniards eat their lunch, or comida, between 2:00 and 4:00 in the afternoon. Serving as the day's main meal, it is traditionally quite a bit larger than the dinner meal, or cena. The Spanish dinner (cena) is traditionally much smaller than the midday comida.
What are the breakfast habits in Spain? ›
El Desayuno aka Breakfast
Well, not quite for the Spanish. The El Desayuno or breakfast is even considered the lightest meal of the day. Their typical breakfast consists of strong coffee with milk, cookies, or toast with jam or cheese.
What are the 5 meals a day in Spain? ›
Spanish people's love for food's also seen in the 5-6 meals they've in a day – breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, merienda (evening snack), tapas, or dinner.
What time are meals served in Spain? ›
Lunch time in Spain: 2-3:30 pm
Lunch will typically begin at 2pm, although at a stretch can start at 1:30pm in some places. From 4pm onwards, restaurants usually stop serving lunch as they run out of options on their menu del dias. Wine or beer is often served with a set lunch menu.
What time do people go to bed in Spain? ›
The typical Spanish work day begins at 9am and ends around 8 pm with a 2 to 3h lunch break (the vast majority of workers go home for lunch and enjoy a large meal with their family and rest for a while). Prime-time television doesn't start until 10:30pm. Most people do not go to bed until midnight.
How many meals a day do people in Spain eat? ›
Typically, most Spaniards will eat 4-5 times per day. The main meal of the day will usually be lunch, with a lighter dinner typically served. Here are a few of the typical meal times in Spain: Breakfast number 1 (around 7 am)