In my experience thus far, I can tell you that Chileans take their mealtimes very seriously. Having said that, their mealtimes are quite different from those in the United States. Whereas most people in the US typically have three defined meals per day, Chileans usually have two larger meals and one smaller meal, or in some cases, three large meals and one small.
To begin with, breakfast is served a bit later than in the US as most Chileans sleep in to 9:30/10am. Breakfast usually consists of ham and cheese sandwiches, hot or cold cereal, or occasionally eggs. As I have class relatively early in the morning most days, my Chilean mom will prepare me breakfast before I leave and I’ll eat by myself or with her.
For Chileans, lunch is their largest meal of the day, the rough equivalent of dinner in the US. Most times it is around 2 or 2:30pm and it is a time when the whole family tries to come together to eat. Even people at work will typically come home to be with family for lunch. I have had some very delicious meals prepared by my host mom or our nanny for lunch. There is usually a main course item and then the Chilean version of salad — thinly sliced lettuce, sliced tomatoes on a separate plate, red onion in a separate bowl, and usually some smashed avocado as well — on the table. Whereas salad in the US is typically combined and tossed before serving, in Chile, each person can choose how much of each component they want. For dressing, it is almost always lemon juice and olive oil and vinegar with salt. Even after everyone is finished eating, most will linger at the table having sweets and tea or coffee for a while before continuing the day.
Then, around 7 or 8pm, Chileans have what they call “once”, which is a small meal and tea and coffee. We usually have ham and cheese sandwiches with avocado or just sweets. This is a very traditional meal in Chilean and broader Latin American culture. There can be another meal around 10pm, but this is not done too commonly anymore.
As far as the most delicious food that I’ve had while in Chile, it has to be the several empanadas. A very traditional food, empanadas are almost everywhere in Chile, and I have certainly sampled my fair share. Ranging from roadside empanadas from small shacks to homemade empanadas from my host mom, each one has been so delicious. Fillings vary, but typically it is one called “pino”, which is beef and onion with an egg and an olive inside. Just cheese is also popular, as well as ham and cheese.
