Eating in Spain

We are learning a lot about Spain and the culture and the people.  One of the many things we are learning is that we like the Spanish food schedule - except when it comes to doing so many dishes!

The food schedule here is 5 meals a day.

1. Breakfast - this is around 8:00 or so - consists of cafe con leche (coffee with milk) or a hot chocolate milk drink and cookies or toast.  Simple meal.
2. 2nd Breakfast - this is around 11 or 11:30.  Even the schools and many employers recognize this meal.  This is again a coffee or a cola and a tapa size meal.  It could consist of 1/2 of a sandwich, chocolate and churros, or a smaller serving of a main dish (I had a dish with potatoes, ham, and an egg the other day - about 6 -8 bite size).  If you are going to eat out somewhere, this is the meal to do it at.  Many of the restaurants offer free tapa when you order a drink.  If you are out shopping or traveling or doing errands you always stop for this meal.
3. Lunch - served around 2:30.  This is the biggest meal of the day.  Most days I try to have it prepared and ready when Scott and Alex get home from school.  This meal would be equivalent to the American evening meal.  Today's menu is pork fillets, a salad, mashed potatoes, and baked apples.
4. Merienda - between 5:30 and 6:30.  You might serve meat and cheese and crackers with chips and fruit, or a quiche, or something light - purpose is to hold you over to dinner.
5. Dinner - served between 8 and 10 at night.  This is again a full meal.  For example last night I cooked pan fried fish, roasted vegetables, fruit, and bread.  

We love the first three meals.  We find that unless we have company we either do Merienda or Dinner, but not both - unless someone wants a snack or a piece of fruit.  My first thought was that I would be as big as a house after living here for a month, but I actually think I may be losing weight.  The meals are healthier and the portions are smaller because you know another meal is in 3 hours are so.  And then of course there is all the walking!  Most meat, fruit, and vegetables are fresh.  Canned food and frozen food is not easily obtained.

Eating a full meal out is expensive so we do that only for a treat.  A combination meal at McDonalds is about the equivalent of $9.