Eating a Small Amount of Bread at the Third Meal
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Question
At the third meal, is it permissible to initially wash hands, eat less than the required amount of bread, and complete the measure with other grain products?
Answer
Hello,
This is not preferable.
Initially, the third meal should be on bread. The measure of the meal is like an egg, and some are lenient with an olive-sized portion, but less than that is not significant for a meal and is not considered as having eaten a bread meal.
Source
Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Laws of Shabbat, Siman 291, Seif 5
It should be done with bread; some say it can be done with any food made from one of the five types of grain; some say it can be done with foods that accompany bread like meat and fish, but not with fruits; some say it can even be done with fruits. The first opinion is primary, that it should be done with bread
Mishnah Berurah, Siman 291, S"K 23
(23) Some say it can be done with any etc. - and according to all opinions, for the best fulfillment of the mitzvah, with bread
Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Laws of Shabbat, Siman 291, Seif 1
One should be very careful to fulfill the third meal, and even if he is full, he can fulfill it with an egg.
Mishnah Berurah, Siman 291, S"K 2
(2) With an egg - not specifically, but a little more than an egg, as an egg is still considered a temporary meal, as stated at the end of Siman 232, and is not considered a meal [MA], and some say that even with an olive one fulfills the obligation of the meal, and it is proper to be stringent initially if possible: