Meals in the u.S.

Meal Times

In the U.S., meals are usually served at the following times:

Breakfast: between 6:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

Lunch: between 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Dinner: between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Dinner is often the most substantial meal of the day, and usually includes a main course of meat, poultry or fish, accompanied by side dishes such as soup, salad and vegetables. Lunch in the U.S. tends to be a lighter meal (often a sandwich, yogurt or a light entrée). Breakfast meals can vary from cereal and milk to eggs and pancakes or French toasts. Brunch, a common Sunday meal served between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., is really a combination of traditional 'breakfast' and 'lunch' dishes. Scrambled eggs or omelets are often served along with other regular luncheon dishes. In many restaurants brunch is served from about 10 a.m. until mid-afternoon.

Common Dishes

Often Americans dine out, i.e. they go to different restaurants. Many foreign people think that Americans are always eating hamburgers in such restaurants. Now it’s proven that eating in such restaurants is not healthy enough. And the truth is that many people in the USA have become vegetarians, who eat little or no meat. Most Americans, however, like many different kinds of food. They especially like exotic foods, and restaurants that serve French, Arabic, Mexican, Japanese, Chinese and African cuisine are among their favorites.

There are a lot of foods in each category, depending upon which type of restaurant you go to (fast food or regular style, American or international cuisine, etc.). Below is a sample menu typical of some American-style restaurants:

Appetizers: nachos, chili, shrimp cocktail, raw vegetables and dip, finger sandwiches, cheese, etc.

Soups: French onion, chicken, vegetable, soup of the day

Salads: regular, Greek, chef, Caesar, spinach

Main Courses: steak, fried chicken with seasoned breading, broiled chicken, fish, hamburgers, pasta dishes, pizza, often served with vegetables or some other dish

Hot and Cold Sandwiches: combinations of ham, turkey, roast beef, chicken, tuna salad (tuna fish with mayonnaise and, sometimes, celery), egg salad (chopped hard boiled eggs with mayonnaise), cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise or mustard, etc., served on bread

Beverages: coffee, tea, soft drinks, mineral water, iced tea

Deserts: cakes, ice cream, frozen yogurt, fruit, etc.

Breakfast dishes: cold cereal and milk, warm cereal, toasts, yogurt, eggs, pancakes, French toasts, waffles, etc.

Americans also like to cook. And they don’t always make simple things. Some of them are real gourmets ['guәmei], and they enjoy preparing fine meals. They spend thousands of dollars each year on cook-books and cooking utensils to use in their kitchens. Like people in many countries, people in the US love to entertain, so they often invite guests to dinner.

When guests arrive, they find a table beautifully decorated with candles and fine china, because a meal is a more appetizing when it is served in pleasant surroundings. When guests sit down to eat, they eat heartily. For many Americans, food that is cooked at home is most scrumptious of all.