Are you traveling to England or Ireland and you will be hosted by a local family? Tips for food and meals!
You are going to Ireland or England, and you will be hosted by a local host family?
Here are some useful information and advice related to food and meals!
About meals!
Generally, there are 3 meals in the UK:
- Breakfast: you will generally have coffee or tea, cereals with milk, and toast with butter/marmalade. Breakfast is a serious business in the UK: don't hesitate to eat a lot since the lunch will likely be light!
- Lunch: usually taken around 1 pm, this is generally a light meal. A typical lunch would be a sandwich, potato chips, a little cake, fruit, fruit juice, and sweets like candy bars. In most homestays, the family will provide you with this lunch. If you are a big eater, you should try to take spending money in order to be able to buy more food.
- Tea or Dinner: The evening meal is served early, around 5.30 or 6 pm. This is the most important meal of the day. Generally speaking, you will eat a main dish followed by a dessert. In most English host families, your dish will already be served when you will sit at the table! If you are home after 6 pm, it is really likely the family will have already eaten.
As the British consider it impolite to watch their host eating when they have already eaten, you will likely eat alone. Other generalities about food in the UK and Ireland:
- • Red meat is not eaten a lot in the UK due to its high price. You will more likely eat chicken turkey, pork, or sheep. Meat is usually served with a brown dressing called gravy.
- • Generally, vegetables are boiled.
- • British and Irish people don´t use a lot of fruits, but they love sweets like puddings, cake, syrup fruits with custard.
- • Usually, there is neither bread nor water at the table. If you want some, you will have to ask the family.
Expected behavior!
Here are some information and advice on how to be have during meals in English and Ireland.
- Your hosts will be pleased if you help with little house hold chores, like dressing the table. You also have to make your bed and keep the common places you're using clean!
- Always be on time, and advise the family if you think you are going to be late for a meal.
- If asked about what you are served, be honest but tactful.
- Regarding manners, don´t be surprised if you see your hosts loading their forks or having their hands under the table. British and Irish manners likely are different from the ones of your country!
- At the end of your meal, put your knife, fork, and spoon on your dish, but don´t cross them.
- Meals are usually taken rather quickly. The family rather gathers in the salon afterward with a cup of tea and a conversation.
Above all, be open and try to taste everything! Never forget to congratulate your hostess for what she has prepared, they will appreciate it!
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