Less affluent people would eat a similar dinner but with less choice of meats, perhaps one meat course with one fish course. The poor would often have to eat vegetables, pulses, chestnuts and large quantities of bread, but all of which was richly washed down with regional wine. Of course over the centuries eating habits changed as the pace of life changed. Lunch for instance used to be taken at home but nowadays very few are able to return home as the commuter belt spreads. Dinner is more relaxed and a more substantial meal.
Main meals are generally well though out.
On special occasions, a meat and fish dish would be eaten. Moreover, old fashioned cooking was based on local produce in season hence the range of vegetables used in traditional recipes is not very wide. In between meals, the Portuguese love to go to one of the hundreds of cafes to eat a cake and drink coffee, tea or stronger beverage. In every city there is a large variety of cake shops which usually is also a cafe. Here, you can also buy light lunches, savoury pastries, pies and prawn rissoles.