In order to honor Shabbat it is customary to eat at least three main meals. The first meal is eaten on Friday night and the two others on Shabbat, during the day. Chazal tell us that we must eat three meals on Shabbat and they learn this from the Chumash, in Shemot Chapter 16. Here we are told about the Manna and preparations for its collection on Shabbat.
"And Moshe said eat it today - for Shabbat is a day for Hashem - and today you will not find it in the fields."
The word "HAYOM" is repeated three times after the word "ACHALAHU", thus we learn that we must eat three meals on Shabbat. On Erev Shabbat, and Shabbat morning we make Kiddush before we eat. At each of these three meals we take "Lechem Mishna" (two loaves of bread) to fulfill the commandment- "VEKARATA LESHABAT ONEG". We honor Shabbat by eating tasty foods, and also by singing Shabbat songs - Zemirot - and discussing Torah.
Cholent is a Jewish stew traditionally served Saturday for lunch. It can be with meat or it can be vegetarian, it's very good both ways.
Cholent takes about half a day to cook, but it takes less than an hour to prepare. It is considered a Jewish Food, because it is made before sundown on Friday, the beginning of Shabbat. After Shabbat has started, it is forbidden to cook. The Cholent is cooking on the stove, but nobody is actually cooking it. The smell of it cooking makes the whole house smell like Shabbat, and makes everyone hungry enough to sell their firstborn rights!
Cholent contains: Potatoes, beans, onions, garlic, lentils, meat, whole eggs, bell peppers, seasonings, and a few other things you just happen to throw in.
SE'UDAH SHLISHIT
THE THIRD MEAL
Right around sunset, or about an hour before Shabbat ends, it is time for Seudah Shlishit, the third meal. We are getting ready to say goodbye to Shabbat. There is no Kiddush. There is Challah, but one is enough. And the mood is a little sad - after all, Shabbat with all its joy, is leaving us soon.
One song traditionally sung at the third meal is "MIZMOR LEDAVID", a psalm of King David. This the 23rd psalm, is popular all over the world, for Christian and Jews.