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Eating and Drinking

A schoolgirl making breakfast

The traditional meal is known as 'meat, potatoes and two veg' (vegetables), but these days people in the UK are just as likely to eat Italian, Chinese, Thai, Mexican, or junk food (including hamburgers and döner kebabs). In fact, the nation's current favourite is Indian food, which has been changed for British tastebuds and is served in thousands of Indian restaurants all over the country. Some strange food to try - haggis - the Scottish national dish which is made of sheep's stomach stuffed with oatmeal and spices. Haggis is eaten with 'neeps and tatties' (root vegetables and potatoes). Other regional dishes include Yorkshire pudding (made with flour and water) and roast beef, or toad in the hole (sausages in Yorkshire pudding).

The Cornish pasty comes from Cornwall, in the south-west of England. In times of poverty, the pasty might just have been filled with potatoes or turnips, rather than meat. Pasties were traditionally a favourite lunch for miners, school-children and fishermen. Sometimes the owner's initials were marked in the crust, which was used as a handle (useful when there is nowhere to wash your hands) and thrown away once the rest of the pasty had been eaten.

"Shall I put the kettle on?" or "Would you like a nice cup of tea?" are questions you might be asked if you visit someone's home in the UK. The traditional English drink is tea - it is drunk throughout the day and is often made during social occasions. Coffee has become popular in recent years, but many people continue to drink tea. The pub (public house or inn) is a traditional place for people to socialise and drink alcohol, usually beer. When people drink together they often raise or clink their glasses and say "Cheers" or wish each other good health and the best of luck.

Fish and chips is another well-known meal - it is usually bought from special shops where the cooked food is wrapped so that customers can carry it home to eat with salt and vinegar or, in Scotland, with lemon juice.   But like nearly every other country in the world, children like eating junk food. They eat pizza, and Macdonalds, and drink Coke.