This year’s theme for National Nutrition Month is: Celebrate a World of Flavors. “Celebrating the cultural heritage, traditions, and recipes from all people is a tasty way to nourish ourselves, learn about one another, and find appreciation in our diversity,” said registered dietitian nutritionist Libby Mills, a national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in Philadelphia, PA.
Exploring various cultures through food is a great way to learn more and be exposed to new food items and cuisines. Try these tips to diversify your palate and knowledge of other cultures.
Choose to eat at an ethnic restaurant
When dining out, try a new place that serves ethnic food to try new dishes. You may be surprised by how many different ethnic restaurants are in our area! Try traditional Chinese, Mediterranean, Indian, or Hispanic, just to name a few.
Chat with the restaurant servers or owners to learn more about the food and culture. They may be able to provide you with information about what is in the dish and other foods that are traditional in their culture and history.
Try recipes from other cultures at home
To learn how to make recipes at home from different cultures, purchase a cookbook with other ethnic recipes.
Search online for recipes by region. This will bring up many traditional recipes waiting for you to try! You may even come across new ingredients you have never used. Cooking cultural foods and using different ingredients creates great conversation with friends and family.
Visit international markets
There are many international markets around Brown County. Stop in to visit and learn more about ethnic foods and culture by looking at and purchasing different food items. If you have found a recipe you are wanting to make at home, gather all the ingredients you will need. It will give you a chance to find the items you need and maybe even spark a conversation with a worker who can tell you more about the culture and food within the culture.
Sources: eatrightpro.org, primroseschools.com
