It’s often thought that we should eat three times a day – in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening before going to bed. Breakfast then ‘breaks the fast’ experienced during the night and the whole routine starts again. But what’s the difference between a lunch and dinner meal? Let’s take a closer look.
General Characteristics of Lunch
Lunch is typically eaten in the middle of the day between 12 noon and 2pm. In many cultures and countries, it’s a lighter meal than dinner, with Westerners often choosing sandwiches, salads, soups or light snacks. Lunch keeps you going throughout the afternoon and is designed to give you energy for work, play and other important tasks. In many places, lunch is somewhat rushed due to work commitments.
That said, in some European and Latin countries, lunch is the main meal of the day. In France, for example, lunch might consist of three courses. An appetiser or soup, mixed salad or pate can start off the feast followed by a meat and carb dish accompanied by a host of vegetables. This is all topped off with a dessert.
General Characteristics of Dinner
Dinner is often eaten in the evening and is the main meal of the day for many people. While people in the UK tend to eat relatively early unless they’re dining out for a special occasion, those in places like Cyprus and Spain tend to eat much later – maybe even ten or eleven when it’s cooler and easier to stomach warm dishes.
Dinner can consist of a single dish, or if you’re heading out for a special occasion or a theatre and dinner treat, you might order three delicious courses as a break from the norm. It all depends on what you fancy and how hungry you are. Each family tends to have their own dinner time routine. While some families eat together at the table every night, others eat on their laps in front of the television. Dinner is usually a more leisurely affair than lunch as the day’s work is done. There’s more time for conversation, and many view it as an important time for family.
While going out for lunch is a nice thing to do, heading out for dinner is typically a more sophisticated affair. You could dress up and go out for a delicious steak with friends or even book a post theatre dinner or a pre theatre dinner if you’re catching a show.
Dinner as Lunch
Just to confuse matters, lunch is often referred to as dinner in many Northern parts of the UK. But the same principles of how lunch is eaten tend to apply. Evening dinner is then referred to as tea and that will be the more substantial meal.
When you eat and how much is a matter of personal preference and circumstances, but if you’re looking for a tasty meal at Wembley before catching a music or theatre event, book a table at Studio Five. Our modern restaurant offers a range of dishes for pre- and post-theatre as well as a menu for more leisurely occasions.
