Do you find yourself planning out your family meals each week, desperately trying to think of something unique and different to offer?
One great way to switch up the routine is to create a “dinner around the world” menu once a week. It gives you and your family the opportunity to try different dishes from across the globe that you may not have otherwise thought of. It can take a little preparation and a little knowledge in the kitchen, but it’s also a fun way to learn about other cultures (and teach your kids in the process), and try something new that could become your new favorite dish!
With that in mind, let’s cover a few ideas to make recipe-building and menu planning easier.
Start Simple
-Don’t overwhelm yourself with complicated dishes right away, or you might turn yourself off from doing something like this in the future. Instead, focus on simple global dishes, like a colorful Greek salad. Or, you could put together a hummus spread as an appetizer. This dish could pair nicely with pita chips or fresh vegetables, and it’s a great way to get your kids to eat something that’s healthy for them!
-Roasted meats and vegetables are usually easy to make (and hard to mess up!), as are layered dishes, pasta, and casseroles. Plan out a few different options before deciding which main dish sparks your interest the most.
-Finally, focus on dessert. In many places across the country, something as simple as fresh fruit can be considered a dessert. But, if you want to go all out, you could whip up anything from fresh French pastries to Italian tiramisu.
Mark It On the Map
-Want to make your international meal(s) more memorable if you have kids involved? Before you get started, bring out a map of the world. Talk about each of the dishes you’ve made, and tell your kids where they’re from. Then, you can stick little thumbtacks or stickers on those countries so your children know where they are. They’ll love learning about different cultures and how far away certain countries are from their own.
Set the Mood With Music
-There are plenty of apps and digital radio stations that will allow you to play traditional music from around the globe. Doing so adds to the atmosphere of the evening, and again, it can be used as an educational tool. Eating international food is about so much more than just the food itself. It’s about the entire culture surrounding it.
Many people across the world think of their meals as events. They don’t just “grab and go” with their food like many Americans are used to. So, appreciate those cultures by enjoying a sit-down meal with your family. Eat slowly and think about the foods you’re eating and where they traditionally come from. You could even bring up a few trivia questions to ask your family about different countries of origin.
The perfect international menu is one that changes from week to week. You’ll never run out of interesting dishes to try and different cultures to appreciate. So, have fun sifting through recipes and creating magic from across the world in your own kitchen.
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