Breakfast
The classic ‘full English breakfast’ can include eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans, fried tomatoes and mushrooms, and sometimes a slice of blood sausage called ‘black pudding’. As if that’s not enough, it usually comes with toast and butter, fried bread or hash browns (a fried potato cake) – or even, occasionally, chips (French fries). Of course, most people in the UK don’t eat a ‘full English’ every day. It’s usually served as brunch, a meal that covers breakfast and lunch together and that tends to be a weekend treat. On a working day, most people eat cereal with milk, toast with jam or honey, or porridge – a bowl of hot oats cooked in milk. The traditional way to eat porridge is with salt, but many people prefer honey, brown sugar or syrup, or pieces of fruit.
The classic ‘full English breakfast’ can include eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans, fried tomatoes and mushrooms, and sometimes a slice of blood sausage called ‘black pudding’. As if that’s not enough, it usually comes with toast and butter, fried bread or hash browns (a fried potato cake) – or even, occasionally, chips (French fries). Of course, most people in the UK don’t eat a ‘full English’ every day. It’s usually served as brunch, a meal that covers breakfast and lunch together and that tends to be a weekend treat. On a working day, most people eat cereal with milk, toast with jam or honey, or porridge – a bowl of hot oats cooked in milk. The traditional way to eat porridge is with salt, but many people prefer honey, brown sugar or syrup, or pieces of fruit.
Lunch
People in the UK eat a light, quick lunch – such as a sandwich, soup or salad – at some time between 12 and 2pm. Lots of cafés and restaurants do special lunch deals, and you might see ‘meal deals’ in supermarkets, where you can buy a drink, a sandwich and a bag of crisps (potato chips) at a discount. Sunday lunch – also called 'Sunday roast' because the main dish is roasted – is the classic, big meal at the weekend, and can be served as late as 5pm.
People in the UK eat a light, quick lunch – such as a sandwich, soup or salad – at some time between 12 and 2pm. Lots of cafés and restaurants do special lunch deals, and you might see ‘meal deals’ in supermarkets, where you can buy a drink, a sandwich and a bag of crisps (potato chips) at a discount. Sunday lunch – also called 'Sunday roast' because the main dish is roasted – is the classic, big meal at the weekend, and can be served as late as 5pm.
Dinner
‘Dinner’ usually means the evening meal, which most people eat between 6pm and 9pm, with their family or friends. A ‘dinner date’ is a classic way of getting to know someone better in a romantic restaurant. However, some people say ‘dinner’ to describe lunch – especially a cooked lunch served in a school or work canteen. With all the cuisines available in the UK, you could have an Indian curry for dinner one day, a pizza the next, then a sushi platter, and on and on around the world!
‘Dinner’ usually means the evening meal, which most people eat between 6pm and 9pm, with their family or friends. A ‘dinner date’ is a classic way of getting to know someone better in a romantic restaurant. However, some people say ‘dinner’ to describe lunch – especially a cooked lunch served in a school or work canteen. With all the cuisines available in the UK, you could have an Indian curry for dinner one day, a pizza the next, then a sushi platter, and on and on around the world!
Tea
Tea is the classic British drink – but it’s also an afternoon snack and another word for the evening meal too. This is usually served as a pot of tea with a selection of small sandwiches, pastries and cakes arranged on a tiered cake stand. A ‘cream tea’, particularly in Cornwall, includes scones – sweet bread rolls, sometimes with raisins, served with butter, jam and a very thick cream.
Tea is the classic British drink – but it’s also an afternoon snack and another word for the evening meal too. This is usually served as a pot of tea with a selection of small sandwiches, pastries and cakes arranged on a tiered cake stand. A ‘cream tea’, particularly in Cornwall, includes scones – sweet bread rolls, sometimes with raisins, served with butter, jam and a very thick cream.
