| Located between Panama and Nicaragua in Central | | | | exports the bulk of its seafood. Chicken, pork, and |
| America, Costa Rica boasts a proud culinary heritage. | | | | beef are the more popular meats. Costa Rica food |
| Many scorn Costa Rica food selections for being high | | | | supplies use organ meat as well; so expect to find |
| in saturated fats, but in actuality Costa Ricans are far | | | | dishes involving stomach, brains, and other organs on |
| more active than other cultures. | | | | the menu. Other staples of Costa Rica food choices |
| Costa Rican's, locally called Ticos, never eat | | | | include fresh vegetables such as tomatoes and a |
| excessively. Limiting their portions is one way they | | | | variety of beans, fruits, including plantains, and rice. |
| stay so healthy. Also, lunch is the most important meal | | | | Costa Rica's capital city, San Jose, is packed with |
| of their day. In fact, like many Latin nations, businesses | | | | outstanding restaurants and cafes. In San Jose, one |
| and schools close down for a couple of hours at lunch | | | | can experience bold foods and beverages. Staple |
| so that employees and students can go home and | | | | beverages such as sugarcane soaked in hot water |
| have a leisurely meal with their family. This allows both | | | | are second only to the nation's delicious Costa Rican |
| a strong focus on family life, but also on slowing down | | | | coffee. Drinks mixing corn meal and milk are also |
| a meal. In America, a typical school lunch lasts a mere | | | | common. Plantains are similar to bananas in |
| twenty minutes at most and work breaks are usually | | | | appearance, but they cannot be eaten raw. Plantains |
| an hour tops, so many must eat at their desk or | | | | are pounded flat, battered, and fried tender. |
| machine. A Costa Rican's lifestyle is completely | | | | As one travels to other regions, the choices for Costa |
| different. | | | | Rica food also decrease and become more traditional |
| Costa Rica food often revolves around rice and | | | | with the beans and rice dishes. Beans and rice dishes |
| beans, such as Gallo Pinto, a dish that translates to | | | | are usually served alongside a carrot and cabbage or |
| "Spotted Rooster". Gallo Pinto is a dish that includes | | | | lettuce and tomato salad. Sometimes Arroz, (fried |
| black beans at a three to two ratio to rice. Also added | | | | shrimp or chicken), are found on the table instead of |
| are onions, garlic, and salt. Meats are eaten sparingly, | | | | beans and rice. The salads are typically larger than the |
| while beans provide a high content of fiber. Fiber can | | | | portion of beans and rice and that helps the Ticos to |
| help counteract the saturated fats. Costa Rica food | | | | stay fit. |
| choices rarely include dairy or cheese. | | | | It is possibly to choose healthy selections of Costa |
| As Costa Rica has water on both sides with the | | | | Rica food. Stick to plenty of fresh fruits and |
| Pacific to the west and the Caribbean to the east, | | | | vegetables and enjoy the delightful blend of culinary |
| fresh seafood is always available. Unfortunately, the | | | | flavors. |
| seafood is also extremely expensive as the country | | | | |