Alexis, World Traveler: This Is the Way We Eat Our Lunch

Alexis's mother and I feel it is important to teach Alexis about diversity and cultural awareness. We want Alexis to know that people of different cultures may be different from us but that it is ok to be different. We want her to know that if we understand their culture that the differences are not really that great. From the time Alexis was born we have been talking to her about world events, and racial tolerance. She has never heard a racial slur in her six years of life. The foundations for racial attitudes are laid as infants and toddlers and after the age of nine their racial attitudes tend to stay the same. That is why it is so important that we never let our children hear or see any form of racial intolerance. When you live in rural Indiana it makes it more challenging to teach about diversity and different cultures. We came up with the idea to have her study about a different country each month and we will do fun activities such as eating at restaurants, playing games, visiting museums, dressing , and listening to music depicting the country we are studying. Follow Alexis on her many travels around the world and feel free to join her as she learns about the many different cultures.

~Mamaw~

Monday, August 29, 2011

This Is the Way We Eat Our Lunch

Posted in Books I Have Read | 4:45 PM | by Diana

Today Alexis read "This Is the Way We Eat Our Lunch" by Edith Baer. This book has catchy rhymes and lovely and fun illustrations. The book covers children from near and far and what they would have for lunch.

Alexis learned some new foods while reading this book:

Plantains - large tropical fruits in the banana family.

Tempura - is a dish from Japan made of vegetables or seafood dipped in batter and fried.

Souffle - a delicate dessert made of egg yokes, beaten egg whites and sugar. This is a dish made in France and Quebec, Canada.

Curry - a spice used in dishes made in India. A meat, fish or rice dish seasoned with curry powder is called curry.

Couscous - is a grain that looks and taste like farina. In North Africa and the Middle East steamed couscous is combined with lamb or chicken and vegetables. In Egypt it is served with sugar and nuts.

Bubble and Squeak - is made in the British Isles with mashed potatoes and cooked cabbage shaped into a patty and fried until you can hear a bubble and squeak coming from the skillet.

Hummus - A smooth thick mixture of mashed chickpeas, tahini, oil, lemon juice, and garlic. In the Middle East it is used as dip for pita bread.