the archipelago's eastern islands. Many of the arepas consumed in the bars and restaurants of the islands are fried. Some incorporate ingredients from the local gastronomy such as soft cheese or Canary plantain. Venezuela The arepa is a symbol of Venezuelan gastronomy and one of the most common pre-Hispanic foods still popular in Venezuela. According to a 2015 survey of the Venezuelan people, nearly 70 percent of the nation ate arepas regularly. It is common for Venezuelans to eat arepas throughout the day, both as snacks and as sides to meals, creating a culture where these corn products can be found almost everywhere and in specific restaurants called "areperas". The arepa is seen as a cornerstone of a Venezuelan diet; previous to the 2015 food shortages, it was estimated that each year the average Venezuelan consumed about 30 kilos of the corn flour used to make arepas. Venezuelan arepas are commonly filled with a great variety of different fillings, from beef and avocado to cheese, varying widely by the location of where they are sold and the ingredients that can be obtained. In Venezuela's Andes region, arepas de trigo are made with wheat flour rather than cornmeal. These lighter arepas are generally eaten as a snack or an accompaniment to heavier meals. See also Cachapa Gordita Pupusa List of breads List of maize dishes References Further reading Food and Agricultural Organization, United Nations. Maize in Human Nutrition Dr. Nelson Solorzano, a specialist in food and nutrition and Caribbean Region Culture. Socio-economic Development Planner specializing in Latin American Socio-economic Development History, Agriculture, and Culture. (CENDES-UCV), USA, May 2007. De los timoto-cuicas a la invisibilidad del indígena andino y a su diversidad cultural. Mariano Picón Salas. Pequeña Historia de la Arepa. Suma de Venezuela. Caracas, 1966. Bolivian cuisine Canary Islands cuisine Colombian cuisine Costa Rican cuisine Maize dishes Panamanian cuisine Puerto Rican cuisine Street food Tortilla-based dishes Venezuelan cuisine