Teaching Children About Different Cuisines

Start at a young age

As with most lessons we talk about on this blog, starting early and often is the key to success. Depending on where you live and what kinds of food you grew up with, some cuisines may be easier to start with than others. For my family, French cuisine is a strong part of our heritage and an easy choice for a deep dive when it comes to broadening palettes. With flavors that are also common in much of American cuisine, it may be an easy choice for your family too. It's also quite easy to take "baby steps" into French cuisine as your children get older. You can experiment with more and more creative recipes at home or venture out to restaurants that offer more varied menus.

The world of Asian cuisine is also an enormous option to explore. The nuances between each country's cuisine can be a delight to explore with your kids. When they are young, it's easy to stick with basic Americanized Chinese cuisine, but as they grow older, encourage them to try new dishes and explore food from less popularized cuisines. There are a lot of simple dishes, like pho, that are easy for children to customize to their liking. And as they grow older, you can encourage them to add more creative options. But remember - kids learn by example, so experiment along with them! If your city is big enough, try having a tour of the East over the course of several weeks by sampling several of the restaurants in your area from different countries and comparing and contrasting the dishes that you try. Many, if not all, of these restaurants will be family-style dining, so you are likely to be able to try everything together, making family discussion of the flavors even more fun.

Variety is the spice of life

No matter what age you start your food adventures with your kids, keep in mind that variety is the spice of life. Everyone has likes and dislikes, but as we say in my family "Don't yuck someone else's yum." Be sure to try many different types of cuisine to ensure a broad palette. Not every type of food will hit a homerun with every child, and that's okay. I don't like everything either, but being willing to give it a try is what's important.

Be on the lookout for new places that might offer the opportunity for your children to try foods they might not have experienced before. These don't have to be "fancy" places at all, but they might be! These experiences are strictly about the food, so anything and everything goes - from a street vendor to reservations only. This is another opportunity where Yelp can help you find unique places to fill the gaps in your family's world map of dining.

Authenticity is important

For me, authenticity in food is very important. Americanized Chinese food is just that - Americanized. I'd rather have food that is closer to what's being served in actual Chinese restaurants if at all possible. So I do my best to read reviews and do some research on the places I eat to learn more about the authenticity of each restaurant. Is the chef at the French restaurant French and trained in France? Is the Korean restaurant family-owned by immigrants, and do they state on their website that they are committed to authentic modern Korean cuisine? Things like that can help guide you toward restaurants that will have flavors closer to their native countries. And that's the experience that I want, not one catered to an American palette. Because after all...

Travel is the ultimate goal

The ultimate goal (for me and maybe for you too) is to travel to many of these countries. Food is one of the most fulfilling aspects of travel in my opinion. I think it encompasses so much of a culture - its history, its passions, its family structure, its economy and agriculture, and so much more. When your family falls in love when a cuisine at home, its a genuine fulfillment to be able to travel to that country and experience it firsthand. This is particularly true when you can include cooking classes in your travels. Our family's pasta-making class in Rome was one of the highlights of our trip, even for our non-cooking-inclined teenage son.

And even if your family can't travel to the countries whose cuisines you love, that doesn't stop you from learning more about them and experiencing them through cultural events, TV shows, books, and any other opportunities that you may have.

Most of all, have fun along the way!