Could you imagine grocery shopping this often?
Spanish mealtimes and portions differ from that of the Estados Unidos (United States). Most Spaniards eat a light desayuno, perhaps una tostada con tomate, aceite de oliva, y sal, accompanied by a glass of zumo de naranja (orange juice), which is typically made at home, and un café.
Mid morning, around 9-11am, Spaniards will eat el almuerzo (mid morning snack), usually a piece of fruit, yogur, croissant, or a pincho de tortilla. The word "almuerzo" doesn't mean lunch in España!
Between 2-3pm, los españoles eat la comida (lunch). La comida is the biggest meal of the day and is usually eaten at home, with family, around la mesa (the table). Lunch consists of a few courses and if eaten outside the house, restaurants often offer a menú del día, which includes el primer plato (usually salad or soup), el plato principal (main course), and el postre (dessert), along with pan and una bebida.
My favorite part of Spanish food culture is la sobremesa, which is la tradición of sitting around la mesa and chatting during and after a meal. Spanish lunches are less rushed than American lunches and for me (an American) often feel more social. The sobremesa exists in many Spanish-speaking countries, including Chile and Argentina.
La merienda is the afternoon snack, which is more popular among kids than adults.
