Food (Leaving Cert Spanish): Revision Notes
Food
Meals in Spain - las comidas
Spanish meal patterns are quite different from those in Ireland or the UK. Understanding when and what Spanish people eat will help you talk naturally about food and daily routines in Spanish. The Spanish eating schedule is one of the most distinctive aspects of the culture, with meals eaten much later than in most other countries.
The five Spanish meals
Spanish people traditionally eat five meals a day, each with its own purpose and typical foods. This pattern reflects the Spanish lifestyle and work schedule.
- El desayuno (breakfast) - 7:00-9:00 This is typically a light meal to start the day. Spanish people often have something simple before heading to work or school.
- El almuerzo (mid-morning snack) - 10:30-11:30 A small snack to keep energy levels up during the morning.
- La comida (lunch) - 13:30-15:30 This is the main meal of the day in Spain. It's much more substantial than a typical British lunch and often includes multiple courses.
- La merienda (afternoon snack) - 17:30-19:30 A light snack in the early evening, especially popular with children and teenagers.
- La cena (dinner) - 21:00-23:00 The evening meal is lighter than lunch and eaten much later than in most other countries.
The Spanish meal schedule is closely tied to the country's work patterns and climate. The late dinner time allows families to eat together after the traditional Spanish siesta period and during the cooler evening hours.
Key food vocabulary by meal
Breakfast foods - el desayuno
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el beicon | bacon |
| un bollo | bread roll |
| los cereales | cereal |
| la crema de avena | porridge |
| la fruta | fruit |
| un huevo duro | hard-boiled egg |
| un huevo frito | fried egg |
| los huevos escalfados | poached eggs |
| los huevos revueltos | scrambled eggs |
| la mantequilla | butter |
| la mermelada | jam |
| las salchichas | sausages |
| las tostadas | toast |
| el zumo | juice |
| un café | coffee |
| un chocolate caliente | hot chocolate |
| una taza de té | cup of tea |
| un vaso de leche | glass of milk |
Lunch foods - la comida
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| un bocadillo | sandwich |
| una ensalada | salad |
| una barra de chocolate | chocolate bar |
| una barrita de cereales | cereal bar |
| unas galletas | biscuits |
| unas palomitas | popcorn |
| un paquete de patatas fritas | packet of crisps |
| una pieza de fruta | piece of fruit |
| una sopa | soup |
| un yogur | yoghurt |
| una botella de agua | bottle of water |
| una lata de Coca-Cola | can of Coca-Cola |
Dinner foods - la cena
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el pescado | fish |
| el bacalao | cod |
| la carne | meat |
| una chuleta de cerdo | pork chop |
| un bistec | steak |
| el pollo | chicken |
| las patatas | potatoes |
| las verduras | vegetables |
| los guisantes | peas |
| las zanahorias | carrots |
| la pasta | pasta |
| el arroz | rice |
| la lasaña | lasagne |
| los espaguetis | spaghetti |
| la pizza | pizza |
Verbs for eating and meals
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| desayunar | to have breakfast |
| almorzar (o→ue) | to have a mid-morning snack |
| comer | to eat / to have lunch |
| merendar (e→ie) | to have an afternoon snack |
| cenar | to have dinner |
Grammar Alert: Stem-changing verbs
Almorzar and merendar are stem-changing verbs, so the 'o' changes to 'ue' and the 'e' changes to 'ie' in most present tense forms.
Examples:
- Yo almuerzo a las once (I have a mid-morning snack at eleven)
- Tú meriendas por la tarde (You have an afternoon snack in the afternoon)
Traditional Spanish tapas
Tapas are small dishes served as snacks or appetisers and represent a fundamental part of Spanish social culture. These dishes are typically shared among friends and family while socialising. Here are some typical examples you might encounter:
- Albóndigas - meatballs
- Bacalao - cod (often served in various preparations)
- Chorizo a la sidra - chorizo cooked in cider
- Ensaladilla rusa - Russian salad (potato salad)
- Gambas a la plancha - grilled prawns
- Patatas bravas - spicy fried potatoes
- Pulpo a la gallega - Galician-style octopus
- Tortilla de patatas - Spanish potato omelette
Tapas culture is deeply embedded in Spanish social life. The practice of "ir de tapas" (going for tapas) involves moving from bar to bar, trying different small dishes with friends. This social ritual typically takes place before the late Spanish dinner time.
Food and health vocabulary
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| animar | to encourage |
| casero/a | homemade |
| la obesidad infantil | childhood obesity |
| las grasas | fats |
| prohibir | to ban |
| un problema creciente | a growing problem |
| una dieta sana | a healthy diet |
| una máquina expendedora | vending machine |
Model sentences using food vocabulary
Practical Examples: Using food vocabulary in context
En el desayuno como tostadas con mermelada.
At breakfast I eat toast with jam.
Mi madre prepara una comida casera todos los días.
My mother prepares a homemade meal every day.
Los españoles cenan muy tarde, normalmente a las diez.
Spanish people have dinner very late, normally at ten o'clock.
Me gustaría probar las tapas típicas cuando visite España.
I would like to try typical tapas when I visit Spain.
Es importante seguir una dieta sana para evitar problemas de salud.
It's important to follow a healthy diet to avoid health problems.
Alternative verb usage: When talking about meals, Spanish uses the verb tomar (to take/have) as well as comer. For example: Tomo el desayuno a las ocho (I have breakfast at eight).
Useful expressions and phrases
- ¡Buen provecho! - Enjoy your meal!
- Tengo hambre - I'm hungry
- Tengo sed - I'm thirsty
- ¿Qué hay para comer? - What's for lunch?
- No me gusta nada - I don't like it at all
- Está buenísimo - It's delicious
- ¿Me pasas la sal? - Can you pass me the salt?
- La cuenta, por favor - The bill, please
Sample writing piece
Worked Example: Describing eating habits
Topic: Describe your eating habits and compare them with Spanish customs
Durante la semana, normalmente desayuno a las siete y media. Como cereales con leche y tomo un vaso de zumo de naranja. En el instituto almuerzo un bocadillo de jamón y queso a las once.
La comida principal es a las doce y media, mucho más temprano que en España. Como en la cafetería del instituto - normalmente patatas fritas con pollo o pescado. Por la tarde meriendo una pieza de fruta o unas galletas cuando llego a casa.
Cenamos en familia a las seis y media. Mi madre prepara comida casera - verduras, carne o pescado con arroz o patatas. Los fines de semana desayunamos más tarde y comemos platos especiales.
Me parece muy interesante que los españoles cenen tan tarde, ¡a las diez de la noche! También me gustaría probar las tapas típicas como las patatas bravas y la tortilla de patatas. Creo que es importante mantener una dieta sana con mucha fruta y verduras.
During the week, I normally have breakfast at half past seven. I eat cereal with milk and drink a glass of orange juice. At school I have a mid-morning snack of a ham and cheese sandwich at eleven.
The main meal is at half past twelve, much earlier than in Spain. I eat in the school cafeteria - normally chips with chicken or fish. In the afternoon I have an afternoon snack of a piece of fruit or some biscuits when I arrive home.
We have dinner as a family at half past six. My mother prepares homemade food - vegetables, meat or fish with rice or potatoes. At weekends we have breakfast later and eat special dishes.
I find it very interesting that Spanish people have dinner so late, at ten at night! I would also like to try typical tapas like patatas bravas and potato omelette. I think it's important to maintain a healthy diet with lots of fruit and vegetables.
Key language features highlighted in this example:
- Time expressions: durante la semana, por la tarde, los fines de semana
- Meal verbs: desayuno, almuerzo, como, meriendo, cenamos
- Opinion phrases: me parece muy interesante, me gustaría, creo que
- Food vocabulary: cereales, bocadillo, patatas fritas, verduras
- Complex structures: mucho más temprano que, cuando llego a casa
Essential points to remember:
- Spanish people eat five meals a day, with la comida being the most important
- La cena is eaten very late (21:00-23:00) compared to other countries
- Learn food vocabulary grouped by meals to make it easier to remember
- Almorzar and merendar are stem-changing verbs
- Use tomar or comer when talking about having meals
- Tapas are an important part of Spanish food culture and social life