Greeks typically have 3 meals a day. Traditionally the largest meal of the day was lunch, but many habits have changed due to Greeks adapting a westernized way of living.
Proino-Breakfast
Not the most popular meal of the day, traditionally, Greeks ate a small and simple breakfast, such as herbal tea with bread or paximadi (dried bread). Coffee was more of a luxury item, but when it was available it was consumed alone or also with bread. Another simple breakfast consisted of soft-boiled eggs with bread. Farmers who needed a breakfast to sustain them consumed trahana, a type of grain/pasta made with milk. Today breakfast is much more westernized and Greeks may eat cereal with milk, bread with jam or honey, yogurt with honey. Many Greeks just have coffee and grab something on their way to work or school such as a cheese pie, spinach pie, the popular sesame bagel-style “koulouri” or even a croissant.
Kolatsio-Mid morning snack
Since most Greeks don’t really eat a huge breakfast they usually get hungry around 11 am, their preferred snack is again a savory pie such cheese pie “tyropita” or spinach pie “spanakopita”or a ham and cheese grilled sandwich.
Mesimeriano-Lunch
In the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s before the 9 to 5 workday came into force all Greek families ate their main meal of the day at home between 1.30pm and 2.30pm, when schools were out , shops closed and dad was home. Today however this type of meal will be consumed at work and only children will eat at home. Traditionally this meal consisted of a vegetable stew/casserole with cheese, bread, salad, and wine; for the more affluent, meat may have been on the menu. Farmers would consume anything they could carry with them, which was basically bread or paximadi with cheese, olives or tomatoes, or fruit. Today Greeks still may eat a traditional vegetable casserole for lunch, but in most cases pasta grilled meat, and sandwiches are also on the menu.
Afternoon coffee
In the old days, Greeks could take a nice nap after the mesimeriano and when they woke up which was around 5 in the afternoon they would drink a Greek coffee with a spoon sweet or some other small dessert or cookie as an accompaniment. Today, not many people have the time to take a nap, but the coffee habit still remains.
Vradino-Dinner
Greeks eat late. If you go to a restaurant before 9 pm, most likely it will be empty. Most Greeks will eat dinner around 9 to 10 pm. If they have had a substantial lunch then they will eat something lighter for dinner such as fruit with yogurt, a sandwich, salad or a small amount of leftovers from lunch. If they haven’t really eaten a good meal for lunch they may have a full meal or order pizza, souvlaki, hamburgers or even Chinese. Younger generations usually eat their main meal at this time. It’s also the time Greeks go out with friends.
Special thanks to my journalist/foodie sister Maria for her contribution.
Hi Elena, Thank-you for your recipes and wonderful information on a healthy Greek lifestyle, especially your notes on pre-Westernized diet and life. I have celiac disease and I don’t eat much gluten-free bread or pasta. I’m wondering if you have suggestions or if your book contains substitutions for some of your lovely Greek favorites (Spanakopita, rusks, etc). I do enjoy polenta, white basmati rice, and potatoes.
Thanks again,
Kiesy
I have celiac also and was wondering the same thing!
Thanks for the info, it was very helpful. Also… Greeks eat fish and lemon in the evening? Coffee, loukimi, and bread for breakfast? I read an article 2 years ago about that.
Hello, Elena. It’s funny but my family eats kind of on this timetable too, and it has felt natural to me since having kids. And know I know why! I am of Greek Cypriot ancestry on my mother’s side – Papou was from Cyprus but moved to the USA when he was young and married a woman of Pennsylvania Dutch extraction – so my mom wasn’t really raised with a Greek way of living and eating, though, and we ate pretty typical SAD 🙁 when I was growing up. I can’t help but believe this led to my parents both developing cancer. However, I love Mediterranean-style food and I want very much to avoid cancer and fix other health issues I have had since a child – which I believe are connected to diet and other lifestyle choices. I married a man from the Midwest who hates fish (I love fish 🙁 but he is very sensitive to the smell so the only time I eat it is either straight from the can or when we eat out). He has hypertension that we’re trying to treat. I think if we could find a way to get him to eat Mediterranean diet sans fish I think he’d do it. Any ideas? Thanks.
Thanks for sharing you fascinating family story! Yes, Mediterranean diet is totally doable without fish. The most important aspects are plenty of vegetables, good fats and less meat.