A Richmond teacher explains the three square meals and other meals that come in between them

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There are three basic meals of a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They are said to be "three square meals" because they refer to three full or complete meals that are healthy instead of just eating snacks.

Breakfast

The first meal of the day is called breakfast because people fast while they sleep. Fasting means going without food. When they awake in the morning, they "break" their "fast" by eating something.

Breakfast MealPhoto byTrip Advisor Screenshot

There are some usual foods for breakfast, whether cooked or uncooked. People in a hurry might have a bowl of cold cereal. People with a little more time might sit down to a hot meal consisting of bacon, eggs, and pancakes.

Lunch

Lunch is the meal eaten during the middle of the day. During the week, people might take their lunch with them in a lunch bag or box. A favorite lunch for schoolchildren is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a banana, and a small bag of chips. Lunches are also sold at school.

Meal for LunchPhoto byTrip Advisor Screenshot

Adults have the same option of taking their lunch to work or getting up from their desks and going out to lunch at a restaurant in the area with co-workers. Many businesses have a cafeteria or a room equipped with a refrigerator and microwave for employees to prepare their lunch.

Dinner

For some, dinner is the last meal of the day. Farmers and people in Virginia and other Southern states refer to their last meal as "supper." It is their biggest meal eaten late in the evening.

DinnerPhoto byCasey LeeonUnsplash

There are names for meals other than the square meals.

Other names for meals

The other names for meals are based on the time of the day when they are eaten.

A snack is a small portion of food generally eaten between meals to put your hunger at bay until you can eat a bigger meal. Examples include chips, yogurt, or something that you can grab and go.

Brunch is a late breakfast and an early lunch. The name is a combination of "breakfast" and "lunch." Fancy restaurants are popular for serving Sunday brunch, which is a little fancier than breakfast.

BrunchPhoto byCaramelonUnsplash

Linner is a late lunch and an early dinner. The name combines the words "lunch" and "dinner."