Turks are used to eating well, and their standards are high. There are some sophisticated recipes that require skill and time, but most can be prepared easily. The Turkish diet, in which a great variety of foods and more vegetables, fruit, beans, and grains than meat are eaten, is a very healthy one. The cuisine's most important characteristic is its reliance on very fresh ingredients, and the cooking methods bring out the natural flavors of those ingredients. Vegetables and fruit are eaten during the season in which they are grown and are purchased daily.
Fish is eaten on the day it is caught.
Lamb, fish, and beans are sources of protein, and bread is a staple. Garlic, onions, spices, and fresh and dried herbs are used as seasonings. Eating habits vary from region to region, but a typical day in Turkey often starts with a breakfast of freshly baked bread, sliced tomatoes, several types of olives, cheese, and jams. There may be soft-boiled eggs, or boreks, the stuffed savory pastries that are also eaten throughout the day. Breakfast is served with Turkish tea.