Traditionally many people in Ireland had their main meal in the middle of the day, perhaps mirroring the labourers working in the fields in the countryside. This was ‘dinner time’, and shared by everybody in the family. In the evening, typically at 6pm, ‘tea’ was taken, which might consist of bread and jam, perhaps some scrambled egg and tea (black tea).
Nowadays, many people have a light breakfast (or sometimes none at all), have a light lunch in the middle of the day (perhaps a sandwich, pastry or a bowl of soup in the winter), and have something more substantial when they return home from work. In the past the evening meal involved every family member sitting around a table – nowadays the vast majority of families eat separately and usually where there is a television to be seen.
Breakfast is often a bowl of cereal or porridge, with milk followed by toasted bread and marmalade. Alternatively, some people eat cooked breakfasts of sausages, rashers of bacon and eggs.
Lunch can consist of a sandwich or filled roll, or a salad, soup.
Traditionally dinner in Ireland involved potatoes, with meat and vegetables. Nowadays, families eat pasta and rice and meals are more varied. Lots of people eat their food in front of the TV, but some families still sit down together to have their evening meal.