Eating is very important for french people. We can account 3 meals with one or two collations per day. It is very diversified and people could stay a long time at the table above all at holiday meals.
Breakfast
In the morning, almost french people take a breakfast. The traditional one is composed by a coffee or coffee with milk, sliced bread and on the top, people spread butter or jam or both. They eat too the famous croissant. But habits have changed and we can see more people drink tea (a bit), orange juice, but the coffee remains the most widely. Some take cereals with milk.
Children drink hot chocolate or juice and eat a wide range of cereals, puffed rice, all washed down with milk. Some tastes pastries.
Lunch and diner
With the lifestyle, french people eat meals which don't require a long preparation, because women like men usually work and they must cook and eat quickly. But at weekend, they take their time to cook and eat. They take a starter (usually cold) or a soup at autumn and winter. Starters are either cold, either hot. About cold one, they eat mainly tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots usually drizzled with vinaigrette sauce or mayonnaise.
The main meal will be vegetables, pasta, potatoes, or rice... with meat or fish. They appreciate green salad and cheese. At last, they eat the dessert: yogurt, a fruit, smashed fruits, custard.
Collations
It is a small meal waiting for lunch or diner. Normally it is a drink (hot or cold) with a fruit, a biscuit, a yogurt or a croissant. After school, children take a collation.
Holiday meals
They last a long time. First, because there are a lot of meals to eat, secondly, french people love to stay on table speaking, debating. they usually begin by a appetizer. Then, from two to three starters (cold and hot), as much as main menus as starters. Come green salad and cheese. A dessert to close the lunch or the diner with a coffee or a tea. Some could have an infusion if it is on evening. The dessert could be an apple pie, french pastries, cakes, custard.
