Fresh vegetables are at the base of every meal here. Israel has a moderate-to-warm climate, so produce grows seasonally all year round. This is slightly different from the United States because Israel operates more "in season" than we are accustomed to back home. Some foods, particularly fruits, are simply unavailable or extremely difficult to find when they are not currently being harvested. Because of Israel's climate, though, staple vegetables like cucumbers, tomatoes, onions and peppers are available all year round.
Most meals will start with salads—even breakfast! A simple salad of chopped up cucumbers and tomatoes (and sometimes parsley) will accompany every traditional Israeli meal, no matter the hour of the day. Even a "fast food" restaurant here serving quick pitas filled with falafel will give out portions of salad. If it's a slightly nicer restaurant, once you sit down, your table will fill up with small dishes of all different kinds of salad. Typical ones include lettuce and carrots, as well as coleslaw variations, assortments of pickles, and different cheeses. If you like tasting lots of new flavors, Israel is a very fun place to eat. You get the chance to sample a few bites of very different foods all at one meal.
Rich flavors and spices are the defining features of Israeli food. My favorite spice that is widely used here is called Za'atar.
