A World of Diversity

Analyze how culture and food supply affect food choicesExplain how regional foods developIdentify how global food choices are interrelated

Different Foods, Different Customs

Cuisine-typical foods and ways of cooking associated with a group of people

Example-in China, squid and sea cucumbers are delicacies!

People around the world eat in different waysSome use just spoons, while others use forks,

knives, or chopsticks, or fingers

Food and Culture

Culture includes the beliefs, values, and behavior shared by a group of people

The culture you live in is reflected in your everyday life-not only in your clothes and language but your food habits

Culture influences what foods you eat, when you eat them, and perhaps where, how and with whom you eat.

Ethnic Background

An ethnic group is a race or nationality of people with common cultural characteristics

The foods and food of traditions belonging to an ethnic group are often called ethnic food

Ethnic food traditions are often passed through many generations

Children learn to enjoy ethnic foods by their families

Religious Customs

Religious customs may include periods of feasting and fasting

Example- dietary laws of Orthodox Judaism prohibit meat and dairy products at the same meal

Christians avoid eating meat during LentHinduism prohibit beef and recommended

avoiding other meats

Holiday Customs

What foods do you enjoy on Holidays? In most cultures, feasts celebrate important

events such as bountiful harvest or religious holidays

Families also celebrate personal holidays such as birthdays, graduations, and weddings

Local Food Supply

Plentiful foods are usually featured more than scarce foods

Climate and Geography

Coastal cuisines usually feature seafood, and why fruit is so common in tropical countries

Modern transportation and food preservation techniques

Commerce

Throughout history, food has been exchanged through commerce

For this reason, foods from different places may be surprisingly similar

For example- bananas, which originated in Malaysia, are grown today in Central America and imported to the US

Immigration and Travel

When people move they often want familiar foods in a new unfamiliar place

Many people find comfort in old favorites When people travel they like to try new foods

America

American cuisine and food traditions began with the foods grown, gathered, and hunted by Native Americans

They helped settlers survive by teaching them about local foods, like turkey, squash, pumpkin, lima beans, corn, and cranberries

Influences

Germans brought apple strudelScandinavians- meatballsEastern Europeans-bagels Irish-corn beef and cabbage Italians- pastaAsians-stir fry

Regional Foods

The US has foods that are special to the area, they bring a variety of flavors and enjoyment to the table

The South has peach and pecan pies. Bbq beef

Midwest includes pork and corn on the cob

West coast-fruits and vegetables

Alaskan- deer or elk Hawaii- puddings,

pickles pineapple

Passport to Nutrition

Healthful Foods from Many Cultures

Consider the nutrition benefits of including a variety of ethnic foods in your eating style!

Example- eating plenty of grain, vegetables, and fruits is good nutrition

Asian cuisines, mixed dishes are made with sliced vegetables

Fruit cups are a street snack in Mexico

Exploring Food World of Food

Take a flavor trip around the nationExplore a variety of regional and ethnic foodsAdd cultural diversity and new flavors to your

food choices

Exploring

Try food at regional or ethnic festivals

Taste new foods, visit local markets

Look for regional or ethnic foods in your supermarket

Check out an ethnic or regional cookbook

Watch cooking shows featuring regional or ethnic cuisine

Eat at an ethnic restaurant

Keeping Food Traditions

Ask a grandparent, parent or other relative to teach you how to make a special family food

Write down family recipes Use your family’s recipes and food customs

when you plan menus for everyday mealsThese will go in your cookbooks

Ethnic Choiceshomecooking.about.com

/ethnicrecipesandfoods/Ethnic_Recipes_and_Foods.htm

German Indian Irish Chinese French Italian

Mexican Asian Jamaican

History

TraditionsReligious and Holiday Customs

Influences

Climate and GeographyImmigration and Travel

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