BALANCE_WINTER_2024 - 110

CULINARY WISDOM
INDIA
Throughout India,
spices such as turmeric,
cinnamon and cumin are
plentiful and as well as
adding amazing flavours,
they can play a part in
preventing illnesses. On
the sub-continent, as well
as many other parts of
Asia, Africa and the Middle
East, people eat with their
hands, which is seen as
the best way for mixing
flavours. It is etiquette to
always use the right hand,
so even southpaws need to
comply as to eat with the
left hand is traditionally
considered impure.
MEDITERRANEAN
The typical Mediterranean
diet of vegetables, fruit,
herbs, nuts, beans, whole
grains and olive oil, with
plenty of seafood and little
red meat, has long been
lauded for its health
benefits. Most typical
recipes limit the amount of
ultra-processed foods and
focus on fresh ingredients
instead. On a separate
note, mealtimes in
Mediterranean countries
are " family time " . The act
of preparing and eating
food with others promotes
wellbeing, fellowship and
strengthens bonds - and
passing food around
is accepted as a
gesture of love.
FRANCE
Eating with the family
around the table is still
a daily event in many
countries. The French in
particular are practitioners
of 'slow eating' - savouring
the food and encouraging
conversation during the
meal. Taking time to
enjoy several courses is
good for the digestion, as
well as your social life.
CHEWS WISELY
CHINA
You might not expect it
from perusing a Chinese
restaurant's menu in the
UK, but in China dishes
involve mounds of
vegetables, tantalising
broths and a myriad of
spices. If you've ever been,
you might have noticed
free water machines,
which are readily available
in places such as airports.
However, this water is hot
and is always served in
restaurants after meals. The
Chinese believe that this
aids digestion much better
than cold water, which is
more likely to crystallise in
the stomach.
SCANDINAVIA
Over the past decades the
'Nordic diet' has become
as celebrated as the
Mediterranean one, for
much the same reason:
plenty of grains, vegetables
and omega-3-rich fatty
fish, plus slow-releasing
carbs such as oats and rye
bread. The traditional
approach of lagom or 'just
enough', applies to food
as well as many other
indulgences of modern life.
MEXICO
Many Mexicans choose to
eat their main meal in the
middle of the afternoon,
called the almuerzo. They
believe that eating a big
meal in the evening is more
likely to lead to obesity, so
if you're feeling particularly
peckish then midday is the
time to indulge.
Bolting your food is widely agreed to be
a Bad Thing, with experts advocating
for different numbers of 'ideal chews'
before swallowing - there's no
universally recommended figure. The
thinking is that your stomach has to
work harder when food isn't sufficiently
broken down, and longer chewing lets
your body recognise when its full.
WEST AFRICA
There is one dish that is
synonymous with
celebration in West Africa:
Jollof rice. Nigerian food
historian Ozoz Sokoh has
written, " It's an often
quoted saying that 'A party
without Jollof is just a
meeting', " and a family
recipe for the mix of chillies,
tomatoes, vegetables and
rice is often a treasured
heirloom. In fact, there's
a friendly national rivalry
between Nigeria and Ghana
over their versions, despite
research showing that it
originated in Senegal.
Trying different recipes can
be great fun, but don't get
too inventive - chef Jamie
Oliver caused uproar when
he added cherry tomatoes!
INSPIRATION STATIONS
Exploring global cuisines isn't just exciting for your taste buds - it's
a great way to diversify the nutrients on your plate. Trying new
dishes, whether at home or in restaurants, keeps meals interesting
and sparks culinary inspiration. Deepen your understanding of
other cultures through their foods by taking an online cooking
class, joining a supper club focused on a specific cuisine, attending
local food festivals or even swapping meals with neighbours. B
110
BALANCE_WINTER_2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of BALANCE_WINTER_2024
