Daily Meals, Mexican Style

Any discussion about eating in San Miguel should definitely include a few words about what particular foods are served when, as it’s likely different than what you might expect. Let me break it down for you.

While lots of Mexican families eat cereal, eggs, fruit and toast for breakfas (desayuno), it's also just as common to eat a tamal, beans and tortillas or chilaquiles.

As for lunch, school kids eat lunch at mid-day (taken in their lonchera, or lunchbox), but most everyone else eats comida, the main meal of the day, served around 2 or 3 pm. Families with children often wait until their kids come home from school so that they can eat their comida together.

Dinner (la cena) at home is often a light meal, and traditionally included pan dulce (sweet bread). To get some of that sweet bread for yourself, head to a panaderia (bread store) sometime after 4pm to get the fresh stuff. The panaderia is also often open in the morning, but you’re likely buying bread from the day before.

As for going out to dinner with your Mexican friends, consider yourself warned - it’s going to feel more like a midnight snack. Dinner frequently isn't scheduled until 9, or even 10 pm.