How Many Meals Are In a Day ?

Food... it's my life.

I once remember hearing about a homeless child who had points shaved off his IQ because he didn't know the names of the meals. He said that he only ate one meal a day and it was called "food" or "some food". The thought saddens me whenever I think of it.

Meals are different from country to country (and even from household to household). When I was growing up, dinner was served promptly at 6 and it almost always contained a beef dish. It was the biggest meal of the day.

Breakfast on a school day would be cold cereal. Sometimes eggs and toast might happen, but my mother worked and wouldn't allow dishes to remain in the sink.

For lunch we got a packed meal; generally tuna, but sometimes cold cuts on white bread. There'd be a piece of fruit in the paper sack. Drinks used to happen in grade school with a THERMOS. After that, no dice.

We didn't have tea or snacks. We generally had something sweet after dinner (cake and coffee).


Breakfast
the first meal of the day especially when taken in the morning;
the food prepared for a breakfast

Lunch
a usually light meal especially : one taken in the middle of the day;
the food prepared for a lunch

Luncheon
LUNCH
especially : a formal usually midday meal as part of a meeting or for entertaining a guest

Tea
refreshments usually including tea with sandwiches, crackers, or cookies served in late afternoon
a reception, snack, or meal at which tea is served

Dinner
the principal meal of the day;
a formal feast or banquet;
the food prepared for a dinner;
a packaged meal usually for quick preparation

Supper
the evening meal especially when dinner is taken at midday;
a social affair featuring a supper especially : an evening social especially for raising funds;
the food served as a supper;
a light meal served late in the evening

Snack
a light meal : food eaten between regular meals;
also : food suitable for snacking

Life has gone through changes in my own world. For me breakfast is a huge deal; rice and beans with eggs or sometimes fried meat (sausage or chicken). I add onion, sweet pepper, and mushrooms. If I'm still feeling peckish, I might add a flatbread with sliced turkey and Provolone.

Lunch is usually soup, salad, and some tuna salad. Or I might have more beans with a variation. For example, I usually have salade niçoise on the ready, or chicken salad, or something that I can prepare in a big pot or bowl and dole out throughout the week... like tabouli or a pasta dish.

I eat pasta for dinner unless I am eating out. I don't do a lot of cooking and I really do like just putting macaroni into boiling water and then top it with red sauce and grated cheese.

Life's simple pleasures!