Different types of meals

A meal is an eating occasion that occurs at a certain time and includes cooked and prepared food. Different names are used for meals served at different hours in different languages. The name of the meal depends on the time of the day, the size of the meal and on speaker’s culture.

Typical meals take place several times a day and then there are special meals that take place on special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and weddings. Meals can be distinguished from snacks based on their size, meals are generally more varied, larger and more fulfilling than snacks. In most modern cultures, three meals are eaten at night, in the afternoon and one in the morning. 

Some of the different meals in a day are given as follows:

  • Breakfast: It is the first meal of the day served in the morning. It is called breakfast in almost all regions and cultures. But there are variations in the breakfast meal too:

Full Breakfast: It is the most popular British dish along with other staples. Full breakfast with lots of protein and usually bacon, sausages and egg served with a hot beverage like tea or coffee. 

Instant breakfast: It refers to the food products that are generally available in powdered form. These are prepared by adding milk to them and served as a beverage. Champagne breakfast: This breakfast is served with sparkling wine or champagne breakfast. This meal is often considered luxurious and is accompanied by rich food items like salmon, caviar, pastries or chocolate that you otherwise would not find at a breakfast buffet.

  • Brunch: This meal of the day is taken between 10:00 am and 11:30 am. It is a portmanteau of breakfast and lunch. The meal is usually accompanied by some kind of alcoholic beverage such as a cocktail or champagne. It originated in the 19th century in England and is getting popular all over the world nowadays.
  • Elevenses: It is a type of snack that is consumed around 11:00 am. It can be a simple snack such as biscuits, coffee or tea.
  • Lunch: This meal is taken in the middle of the day usually at noon or before 1 pm. In some regions, the name of this meal depends upon its content. 

Box lunch: In a lot of countries, lunch is packed in a box and taken to workplaces or offices. 

  • Tea and snacks: This meal is usually served at the dusk. It serves a hot beverage like tea, coffee or soup along with some snacks like chips, sandwiches e.t.c

High tea: This originated in Britain and is one of the oldest British meal traditions. High tea generally takes place at evening hours at a high table such as a dining table or a high counter after the tiring workday.

  • Dinner: This meal is consumed in the evening or night time The name of this meal is also based on the content of the meal. A lot of English speakers call their dinner supper or tea. 

A full course dinner: A full course dinner involves several courses such as starters, appetisers, main course and dessert. These meals are carefully planned to complement each other.

  • Midnight snack: Although it is not regarded as a conventional meal but has become quite popular in our society. A lot of people wake up in the middle of the night due to hunger or cravings and like to enjoy a midnight snack. Now, a midnight snack can be anything from the dinners leftovers, to snacks like chocolates, cookies or chips.
  • Brunner: It is a special kind of meal which is a combination of breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is used by people who consume only one meal in the day. People invented this meal due to their busy schedules and tiresome days when they got time to eat only one meal a day. Generally, it is consumed as a big breakfast that would cover for lunch or dinner but it can also be a big dinner covering for breakfast and lunch.

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