What do Canadians eat? - MLI Homestay (2024)

Breakfast is usually at about 7:30am to 8:30 am on weekdays and later on the weekends. Canadians eat cereal or toast with tea/coffee, juice or milk for breakfast. It is very typical for each member of the family to prepare their own breakfast as everyone may be leaving for work or school at different times. In Canada, it is very likely that your host family will show you where things are in the fridge and cupboards and ask you to “Help Yourself.” It is not common that the host mom or dad will prepare breakfast for the family.

On weekdays, Canadians usually have approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour for lunch. Your lunch break at school could be anywhere between 11:30 am to 1:00pm. On the weekend, families may have a brunch together around 11:00am or a later lunch around 1:00pm or 2:00pm. Brunch is like a larger breakfast or a breakfast/lunch combination that may include pancakes, bacon, eggs, toast and potatoes.
An example of a typical Canadian packed lunch is a sandwich and fruit, leftover from dinner the day before like pizza, pasta, soup. Snacks like a piece of fruit, some cookies or cut vegetables are sometimes eaten between meals and may be packed in your lunch bag or you can “Help Yourself” if you are at home.

Canadian supper/dinner time is usually between 5:00pm and 6:30 pm. Meals often consist of meat, potatoes and vegetables. Of course, every family has different likes and dislikes, so you may find your family enjoys foods like pizza, fish, spaghetti, or pasta. Also, sweet desserts like cookies, cakes, and ice cream are a favourite among Canadians.