Diet
Rice is the staple food in the Filipino diet. It is prepared in a variety of tasty ways and is often included in desserts as well as main meals. The primary source of protein is fish, which is accompanied by a variety of vegetables and tropical fruits.
A typical family eats 3-4 times a day. Breakfast, lunch, (some have "merienda", which usually consists of desserts called "kakanin" which are made of sticky rice, sugar, coconut milk, etc., or some light snacks such as rice porridge or pansit--noodles) & dinner. Some eat twice a day (brunch, dinner). The "traditional" meal is rice with every meal.
A typical Filipino meal consists of rice and a
"viand" which usually has some type of meat like beef/chicken/pork or fish in some soup mixed with veggies. Filipinos love sauces, too. Usually there's fish sauce ("patis"), soy sauce ("toyo"), vinegar ("suka").
Standard meal time is 8-10 AM for breakfast, 12-2 PM for lunch, 3-4 PM for merienda, and 6-9 PM for dinner.
Mealtime
Conversation is casual during meals. The best way for a guest to compliment a meal is to eat heartily. A small portion is left on the plate to indicate the person has had enough to eat.