We live in a world that is full of so many different cultures, and chances are you’ve probably sampled quite a bit of meals from different cultures right at your kitchen table. This is a great teaching opportunity to get your kids involved while learning about where the meals come from.
Take some time to talk with your children about their favourite meals. This is a great way to start planning your menus. You can research together on where the dishes originate from, then you can connect it to learning other things like historical facts, types of music that match your dish, or maybe a special activity that can be done when making the dish you choose.
Cultural Dishes to Try
Pizza
Place: Italy
Special facts to learn: Learn about the difference between cooking in a regular oven or a wood burning stove and making the dough with a rolling pin or stretching it with your hands.
Cooking skills: Oven safety
Fun activity: Decorate your dining room like an Italian restaurant and play some Italian music in the background while you eat.
Stir-Fried Noodles
Country: Japan
Special facts to learn: Learn about the different kinds of noodles like Udon, Ramen and Yakisoba. What different types of dishes are they used for? What are the different textures?
Cooking skills: How to stir-fry
Geography fact: Japan is an archipelago. Grab a map and check it out!
Jambalaya
Place: New Orleans, USA
Special facts to learn: New Orleans is famous for its music, foods and arts. You can research celebrations like Mardi Gras, Jazz music and the combination of cultures that make up what is known today as creole food.
Cooking skill: Making rice
Fun activity: Have a Mardi Gras party with your Jambalaya! Play some jazz music while you eat.
Poutine
Place: Quebec, Canada
Facts to learn: Not many people know this but poutine originated in Québec. It is considered part of Québécois culture. Learn more about Québécois culture and other interesting facts about our French speaking province.
Cooking skill: Chopping potatoes
Language fun: Learn to say a few French words like “hello” (bonjour), “goodbye” (au revoir), “please” (s’il te plaît) and “thank you” (merci).
Tacos
Place: Mexico
Special facts to learn: Learn about the different types of tacos that can be made, using hard or soft shells and trying different ingredients and flavours.
Cooking skill: Grating cheese, making salsa
Fun Activity: Have a mexican fiesta! Learn about piñatas and make one of your own!
These are just a few ideas for you to try, but there is so much more for you and your children to explore. If you are feeling adventurous, maybe you want to try some of these 89 recipes from around the world! Be creative and have fun!
This article has been written by homeschooling staff writers of The Canadian Schoolhouse (TCS). Enjoy more of our content from TCS contributors and staff writers by visiting our Front Door page that has content on our monthly theme and links to all our content sections.
"Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6).