Why Do We Eat What We Eat?

Why are the following restaurants popular?  Thai Cuisine  Albreje  GNA  Santino’s  Zuang Garden  Tokyo  Plaza Azteca

Why are seafood restaurants common around the beach? Answer: Geography and Location

Why are bread and wine sometimes served during Christian church services? Answer: Religion

Why do many families in the United States eat turkey for Thanksgiving? Answer: Tradition

Major Influences affecting a regions cuisine: GeographyReligionTradition

Geography  Location and climate of land affect what can be grown or raised Fish and seafood are plentiful in coastal areas Fish and seafood are plentiful in coastal areas Citrus fruits thrive in lands with long warm seasons Citrus fruits thrive in lands with long warm seasons Rice grows in marshy areas Rice grows in marshy areas  The people of the area use the foods they have at hand to make their meals

Religion  Influences the foods of culture too!  Jewish eat unleavened bread during Passover  Christians give meanings to food  Some religions restrict eating certain foods Hindu’s don’t eat beef Hindu’s don’t eat beef Islamic don’t eat pork Islamic don’t eat pork

Tradition  Customs passed from one generation to the next generation  Many traditions center around holidays Chinese celebrate their New Year with a ten- course meal Chinese celebrate their New Year with a ten- course meal Pork and sauerkraut eaten on New Years day for good luck Pork and sauerkraut eaten on New Years day for good luck  Other traditions are based on folklore In China black teas are called red teas because black is bad luck In China black teas are called red teas because black is bad luck

Why do many countries have more than one type of cuisine?  Often climate and geography vary widely through the country  Original settlers of a country may be different from region to region

Influences of changes in cuisines of the world today  Immigration- bring traditions to our culture  Mobility- travel and try more foods  Technology- ability to transport foods  Media- exposed to new foods

 What are common foods eaten in your family?  Why do you think these foods are became favorites in your family?  Is there a particular cuisine that these foods follow?

 What are traditional holiday foods served in your family?  Do you know where these traditions originated or got started?

 Name 5 foods typically eaten in the United States  Do you think someone living in another area in the country would list the same foods? Why or why not?