FOOD TIMETABLES

We all know that when foreigners come to Spain they get surprised by our timetable. We, spanish people, do everything later than most of the people in the rest of the world. We go to work later, we eat later and we go out to have fun later too.

We are used to this and we also get surprised when we travel. Sometimes we think that our timetable is better because we make the most of our days, just because we go to bed later than anyone. But is that really true?

In general, we have a light breakfast before going to work or to study, like a coffee or a glass of milk. We do our normal breakfast about 11 in a bar close by. Our lunch is usually at 2 or 3, and an abundant one. We might have something to eat in the early evening and a big dinner at 9 or 10 at night.

Do you think that our times to eat are the best?



In Spain we stop everything to eat. We stop working at 2 and go home to eat. Having a big lunch about 2 or 3 in the afternoon makes one feel sleepy and need a "siesta", a typical Spanish short nap. Some believe that everyone takes a siesta in Spain. But unfortunately we are not that lucky. Most of our jobs in Spain don't allow us to sleep after eating. After eating so much we must be ready to go back to work, which I think makes it difficult to work properly.
Also during this time public establishments close for some hours and reopen about 4.30 or 5. But public organizations and banks close at 2 and don't reopen, which can be a problem for people who work during those morning hours (which usually happens).

So do you think that this break in the afternoon is a good one? Does it make it possible for people to rest to go back to work properly later? I don't think so. I think that this timetable keeps us busy the whole day and gives us no free time to enjoy during the day. This is why we have to enjoy life so late, especially during weekends. That means going to bed much later, waking up later, eating later and making the rest of the things later as well.


In England, for example, the eating timetable is very different.

In the morning, they have a big breakfast, usually some sliced
bread with butter and jam and cereals.
During the weekends they might eat their popular English Breakfast.

After that, differing with us, they have a light lunch at 12 or at 1 at latest, which allow people keep working inmediately after having eaten. It usually consists of a salad, or sandwiches and some fruit. Children and adults eat lunch outside. They might take some food from their homes or buy something already made; there are many shops where you can find them.

They don't stop everything to eat as we do. They have half an hour to eat and then go back to work. In most cases, they finish working at 5 or 6, which makes it possible to make the best of their day.

It is also habit to have a snack before dinner, called "tea break", the popular english tea time. Dinner (also called "supper") is their biggest meal and takes place at 6 or 6.30. It typically mixes different kinds of food (salad, vegetables, potatoes).

One can cook without being in a hurry, resting a little bit and enjoy his/her day after supper. Also, they don't go to bed with a full stomach.





What do you think now? Is it not better to have a light lunch and keep working after? Stop working earlier and have dinner calmly? Enjoy life during the day?

In Spain, I always see women running to the bakery everyday at 2, nervous about what to cook and how little time they have. Do you know the cause of our timetable? War.

Spain became a destroyed country. It was impossible to maintain a family with only one salary, so men had to work 2 different jobs, one in the morning and one in the evening.
Married women weren't allowed to work in that period, so they cooked in the morning and evening for when the men returned from each job. They had enough time to cook a big menu, but now things have changed. Men and women both work, but the timetable has not changed at all. And it can be crazy.

By Clara Jiménez García