Food and eating habits
How people eat in Mexico
50 indicators exploring everyday meals, ingredients and food culture. Information is completed progressively from documented evidence.
3 of 50 indicators with documented information
Not all data are comparable: food supply, purchases and intake are different measures. Check the period, population and method for each finding. Qualitative descriptions do not establish percentages or amounts.
Timing and company
0/8
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Meal times | Awaiting research |
| Meals per day | Awaiting research |
| Meal duration | Awaiting research |
| Daily energy distribution | Awaiting research |
| Weekdays and weekends | Awaiting research |
| Eating at home and away | Awaiting research |
| Cooking frequency | Awaiting research |
| Eating together | Awaiting research |
Pantry and recipes
0/2
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Most consumed ingredients | Awaiting research |
| Ingredient prevalence in recipes | Awaiting research |
Cereals and plant foods
0/6
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Cereals and cereal products | Awaiting research |
| Bread | Awaiting research |
| Pulses | Awaiting research |
| Vegetables | Awaiting research |
| Fruit | Awaiting research |
| Potatoes, roots and tubers | Awaiting research |
Protein foods
0/5
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Meat | Awaiting research |
| Fish and seafood | Awaiting research |
| Eggs | Awaiting research |
| Milk and dairy products | Awaiting research |
| Protein sources | Awaiting research |
Fats, flavours and condiments
3/3
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Cooking fats |
Regional culinary descriptions mention Michoacán carnitas, slow-cooked in their own fat, and olive oil among the ingredients of Baja California cuisine. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Herbs and spices |
A review of descriptions of the traditional Mexican diet lists chile among the specific foods mentioned and notes that herbs and condiments appear less often than other food groups. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Sauces and condiments |
Culinary descriptions present tomato-and-chile sauces, green tomatillo salsa, and mole. Tomato, chiles, onion, and cilantro are described as the basis of many sauces; mole may combine chiles, spices, nuts, seeds, and cacao. Scope, method and limitations
|
Meal composition
0/6
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Breakfast composition | Awaiting research |
| Main meal composition | Awaiting research |
| Dinner composition | Awaiting research |
| Appetisers and snacks | Awaiting research |
| Desserts and sweets | Awaiting research |
| Portion sizes | Awaiting research |
Techniques and equipment
0/5
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Cooking techniques | Awaiting research |
| Vegetable preparation | Awaiting research |
| Food preservation | Awaiting research |
| Fermented foods | Awaiting research |
| Kitchen equipment | Awaiting research |
Drinks
0/3
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Everyday drinks | Awaiting research |
| Coffee and tea preparation | Awaiting research |
| Drinks with meals | Awaiting research |
Nutrition and dietary patterns
0/3
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Energy and nutrients | Awaiting research |
| Salt and sugars | Awaiting research |
| Dietary patterns | Awaiting research |
Shopping, prices and waste
0/7
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Food expenditure | Awaiting research |
| Cost of a common basket | Awaiting research |
| Cost of specific meals | Awaiting research |
| Grocery shopping locations | Awaiting research |
| Shopping frequency | Awaiting research |
| Prepared food and delivery | Awaiting research |
| Household food waste | Awaiting research |
Seasons and celebrations
0/2
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Seasonal produce | Awaiting research |
| Celebration food | Awaiting research |
Coverage in progress
The editorial guide for this country is in preparation. You can already explore its recipes; regional attributions are added when documented.
Guide available in other languages: Español
Places and communities
One country, many cuisines
An initial selection of regions to explore. Culinary boundaries may differ from administrative divisions.
Valle de México
Tlaxcala
Cook
Recipes connected with Mexico
Each recipe documents one version. Geographic associations do not imply an exclusive origin.
Tacos al pastor
Mexican tacos filled with pork marinated in chiles, achiote, and spices, served in corn tortillas with pineapple, onion, cilantro, and lime.
View recipe
Mexican tres leches cake
An airy sponge soaked with condensed milk, evaporated milk and cream, then topped with whipped cream.
View recipe
Red chilaquiles
Toasted corn tortilla chips are tossed with a red tomato-and-chile sauce and served right away with fresh cheese and cilantro.
View recipe
Sources consulted
Read the sources and each document’s scope. A heritage inscription concerns a particular practice, not all of a country’s cuisine.
- A Culinary Journey Through Mexico: Exploring 9 Regional Mexican Dishes – Vegetarian Express vegetarianexpress.co.uk/blogs/news/a-culinary-journey-through-mexico-exploring-9-regional-me… vegetarianexpress.co.uk Consulted: November 9, 2026
- Definition of the Traditional Mexican Diet and Its Role in Health: A Systematic Review - PMC pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6893605/ pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Consulted: November 9, 2026
- 10 Common Ingredients in Mexican Cuisine You Should Know | The art of eating well | mentta mentta.com/blog/en/10-common-ingredients-in-mexican-cuisine-you-should-know?srsltid=AYCX9vIv… mentta.com Consulted: November 9, 2026
- La cocina tradicional mexicana: cultura comunitaria, ancestral y viva; el paradigma de Michoacán ich.unesco.org/es/RL/traditional-mexican-cuisine-ancestral-ongoing-community-culture-the-mic…
- Del maíz a la tortilla y el proceso de nixtamalización www.gob.mx/agricultura/articulos/del-maiz-a-la-tortilla-y-el-proceso-de-nixtamalizacion?idio…
- Tlaxcalli: documental sobre nixtamalización www.gob.mx/cultura/prensa/la-colmena-presenta-tlaxcalli-un-corto-documental-que-aborda-la-im…