Walking 12 to 18 miles a day requires fuel. What does the Peregrino eat to keep up the pace?

Breakfast: A right start is critical, right? In Spain, however, breakfast is an under rated meal. Bread, toasted, some jam, a small coffee and you’re off! Not so fast. If you want the deluxe, for a couple euro more, add a slice of luncheon ham, a slice of luncheon cheese and an orange juice. For power eaters like Diane and I, we are immediately searching out the next snack or meal.

Lunch: Again, the Spanish Peregrino meal is not substantial. Usually, it is a portion of french bread with tomato smeared across the interior, then Serrano ham and a good cheese inside. It is actually quite tasty, but not always filling given the smaller breakfast. For Diane, who doesn’t eat meat, she will often buy the bread only and put a store bought can of tuna inside.

To drink, many serve a glass of wine, a tall glass of beer or, for the same money, the world’s smallest diet coke. Since we stopped drinking 2 years ago, we opt for the coke.

Dinner: Almost every town has multiple restaurants offering Peregrino menus for roughly 10 euro. These are great! 3 course meals, salad or soup, multiple main course options, and dessert. Add to that, they offer 1 bottle of wine … or water, per 2 persons. A great deal if you drink as the Rioja wines are renowned. The water is not so bad, either.

Snacks: The real way Peregrinos survive is snacks! After laundry and showers, the Peregrino immediately hunts down the nearest grocery shop to purchase fruit, sweets, proteins, anything with caloric value.

You want to make some money? Sell snacks to Peregrinos along the Camino.