Most of the girls in my group and I go on these one day diets, that usually start on Sundays after a weekend of gorging on yummy tapas, late night shwarmas, pastries, ice cream, … and the list goes on. But we tell each other that we really should enjoy all the different food and eat all that we want because we wont be around all of this deliciousness when we go back to the States. I am writing this entry as I’m sipping on my Cafe con Leche and nibbling on a doughnut from Dunkin’ Coffee. Dunkin’ Coffee is really Dunkin’ Doughnuts but we decided that they changed the name because Spaniards probably can’t pronounce ‘doughnuts’. We still haven’t figured out how Spaniards have fit or at least petite considering how and what they eat. The Spanish eating schedule is commonly known to be different than it is in the States. Light breakfast in the morning, large meal for lunch between 2 and 4 (past 3:30 at my home stay) and then dinner between 9 and 10. Bread is served in the morning, with lunch, and dinner and is eaten very often. Spaniards also do a lot of social drinking and I see more families eating ice cream, churros, and other snacks here than in the States. Not all universities have gyms, and gym culture isn’t as big here. The only factor that might contribute to the Spaniards not gaining 20+ pounds a year is that they walk every year is perhaps that they walk every year and if that’s the case then we will continue eating all that we want since we also walk every where.
1*Tapas: Practically anything from a chunk of tuna, cocktail onion and an olive skewered on a long toothpick to meat with sauce served piping hot in a miniature clay dish. They are served day in and day out in every bar and café in Spain. So much a part of the culture and social scene that the Spanish
2*Shwarmas:Middle Eastern Arabic-style sandwich-like wrap usually composed of shaved lamb, goat, chicken, turkey, beef, or a mixture of meats.
3*Churros: Fried-dough pastry-based snacks, sometimes made from potato dough. Normally eaten for breakfast dipped in hot chocolate.
