Almuerzos

         In Ecuador, almuerzo (lunch) is the meal of the day.  People typically eat small breakfasts and small dinners (if any), and fit in an entire day of food at lunch.  The typical Ecuadorian lunch is huge.  It stars with a large, large bowl of soup, usually full of potatoes, corn, beans, yucca, or rice, etc., and a glass of typically freshly squeezed juice.  After this large, delicious bowl of soup, I am usually full…but the meal has just begun.  Next there is a heaping plate full or rice, potatoes, and some kind of meat.  Occasionally, there is a vegetable or two or a small salad hiding in the corner of the plate. On the side, there is a typically a huge plate of fried something…plaintains or fries or bananas.  And, of course dessert…typically some kind of cake, cookie, or mysterious sugary frothy thing.  Oh, and don’t forget the pan (bread) and galletas (sweet crackers) that accompany every meal.  Needless to say, lunch is pretty awesome.

         Besides the delicious food, lunch is an important gathering time during the day.  Above all else, I have come to love this part.  In most families, everyone returns home from their various jobs and schools to eat together (stores in the city close, except for lunch restaurants so that people can eat with their families).  Lunch lasts for an hour plus, and everyone eats, relaxes, chats and jokes.  No one rushes anywhere; people just chill at the table.  It’s great.  During lunch, there are no worries, and nothing else matters.  Lunch here is so different, and so much better than typical lunch times in the US…where people eat at their desks, or while studying, or in the car.  Lunch is usually rushed, or on the go, or solo, and mostly for the sake of shoving some food in your mouth.  Here, it is so fun and relaxing.  It is a perfect break in the middle of busy days.  I think we could learn a little something from Almuerzos here…and possibly from the ciestas (naps) after almuerzos.  It’s so good for us to take a break in the middle of the day to relax and recuperate.

         Thus far, my only problem with the large lunch…has been the lack of dinner.  I am also used to eating a big dinner.  Some families eat dinner, but others consider the big lunch to be sufficient.  For the girl who usually eats every two hours..not the case haha.  The first few days, I went with the flow, and ended up waking up during the night and stuffing myself with pan and going back to bed haha.  But, I have quickly learned that dinner is a meal that you eat if you want, and it’s totally fine to make yourself a big dinner.