Meal facts for kids

A meal is a serving of food that people eat. Meals usually have different kinds of food, like grains, vegetables, fruit, and sometimes, meat. Meals are often named by the time of day they are eaten or by the type of food they include.

Different Types of Meals People Eat

In places like North America and Europe, most people eat three meals every day.

Morning Meals: Breakfast

The meal eaten in the morning is called breakfast. It often includes foods made from grain, such as cereal, porridge, or bread. People also enjoy fruit like apples, bananas, or oranges. Dairy products like milk, yogurt, or cottage cheese are common too. Many people drink coffee or tea with their breakfast.

Midday Meals: Lunch

Around noon, people eat their lunch. Many people who are working or going to school get a special break to eat lunch. A typical lunch might include a sandwich, soup, vegetables, fruit, and milk.

Evening Meals: Dinner or Supper

In the evening, people eat their supper or dinner. Dinners can be very different depending on the country or culture. Usually, dinner has a "main course" like roast beef. It also includes a grain, such as rice or pasta, and a vegetable like carrots or cauliflower. After the main course, people often have a dessert, which is sometimes called a "sweet" or "pudding" in England.

Sometimes, a small serving of food called a starter or appetizer is served before dinner. Appetizers are usually small bites of food like olives, cheese, or bread.

Examples of Famous Meals

• Fish and chips - This is a very popular meal from the United Kingdom.

Images for kids

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  Meals have been traditionally prepared by women in a home kitchen (Painting from the circle of Jean-Baptiste de Saive, 1563)

See also

In Spanish: Alimento para niños