The duration and experience of mealtimes

Brazilian meal

Canadian meal

"Excuse-me, do you have a few seconds to talk?” – “Sorry, I don’t have time; I’m on my lunch...” This is the most common excuse when you try to start a conversation with someone on the streets, some restaurants, cafés, and fast food restaurants. Maybe the people believe they don’t have time to stop to do anything, just for a minute. Is that why they don’t have a long lunch time? Is that why they don’t have a real meal, just fast food? And if they can choose another kind of food, like a real meal, would they choose that? Do they care about the amount of time, is it enough? I ask some people, Canadians and Brazilians about these questions, and they answered me, all would like more time and to have a special meal with friends and family. In Canada you have 30 minutes to 1 hour for lunch, in Brazil, you have more time for lunch: 1 or 2 hours. Usually you can eat in your home, with your family and eat a real meal. In Brazil, a real meal is like rice, beans, beef and salad or spaghetti…etc, but no fast food. This time is important because you can talk with your family, take a rest sometimes and when you return to your job, for example, you’ll feel much better, and almost everything is healthy.

Another difference between Brazil and Canada is restaurants in Canada you need to memorize the menu, order your dish or sandwich as fast you can and before you finish your lunch, your bill is on the table and they’re waiting for you to pay and leave (so they can sit the next customers). Everyone works with that thought, “Sorry, I don’t have time”.

In Brazil, you have a lot time to choose your meal and you don’t need to eat in a hurry. You need to try, when you can, to have a good meal with your family and friends and enjoy this moment, it can be happy and healthy.