Food Customs Around the World
Explore mealtimes, table manners, and food traditions from different places. Discover how small habits can make sharing a meal special.
Preview
Questions with solutions-
1. Piliin ang tamang sagot.
What are the diners waiting for?
At a family dinner, everyone has food except one guest. The others wait before they start eating.
- For everyone to receive their food
- For everyone to finish their food
- For everyone to order more food
One guest is not ready to eat yet.
Show solution
- For everyone to receive their food
Waiting until everyone is served is a common way to make guests feel included.
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2. Punan ang patlang.
In many Italian cafes, a cappuccino and a sweet pastry are a common ___, enjoyed at the start of the day.
- dinner
- breakfast
- lunch
Think about the first meal of the day.
Show solution
In many Italian cafes, a cappuccino and a sweet pastry are a common breakfast, enjoyed at the start of the day.
A cappuccino combines espresso with hot milk and milk foam.
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3. Piliin ang tamang sagot.
According to this custom, which hand should you eat with?
At a meal in an Indian home, the host eats with the right hand. In this family, the left hand is used for personal hygiene rather than eating.
- The left hand
- Both hands together
- The right hand
Notice which hand the host uses.
Show solution
- The right hand
This custom is common in many Indian families, but habits vary. Washing your hands before eating is important too.
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4. Piliin ang tamang sagot.
What takes the place of a fork in this meal?
At an Ethiopian meal, meat and vegetable dishes sit on injera, a soft, flat bread. Diners tear off pieces of injera to pick up the food.
- A piece of meat
- A piece of injera
- A vegetable
One food helps diners lift the other foods.
Show solution
- A piece of injera
Injera is both part of the meal and a way to eat it. Its dough is left to ferment, giving it a slightly sour taste.
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5. Piliin ang tamang sagot.
If the visitor follows the hosts' routine, how will dinner time change?
A visitor from the United States usually eats dinner in the early evening. The hosts in Spain normally eat dinner later in the evening.
- Dinner will be earlier than usual.
- Dinner will be at the usual time.
- Dinner will be later than usual.
Compare the visitor's usual routine with the hosts' routine.
Show solution
- Dinner will be later than usual.
Later dinners are common in Spain, although schedules differ between families and places.
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6. Piliin ang tamang sagot.
What is an important part of fika?
In Sweden, fika is a break for coffee or another drink, often with something sweet. Friends or coworkers use this time to enjoy each other's company.
- Taking time to talk and relax
- Finishing a large evening meal
- Eating alone as quickly as possible
Think about why people spend this time together.
Show solution
- Taking time to talk and relax
Fika can happen at home or at work; the social break matters as much as the drink.
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7. Piliin ang tamang sagot.
When is the main meal in this routine?
In many Mexican households, comida is the main meal, eaten in the afternoon. Cena, the evening meal, may be lighter.
- In the morning
- In the afternoon
- Late at night
The main meal and the evening meal are different here.
Show solution
- In the afternoon
The main meal is not always dinner. Work and school schedules can also shape a family's routine.
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8. Piliin ang tamang sagot.
What food would you expect at this afternoon tea?
Traditional afternoon tea in Britain includes small sandwiches, cakes, and tea. It is separate from the main evening meal.
- Only sweet food, with no sandwiches
- One large main dish, with no cakes
- Small portions of both sweet and savory food
Cakes are sweet, but sandwiches usually are not.
Show solution
- Small portions of both sweet and savory food
Savory food is not sweet. Afternoon tea may also include scones served with jam and cream.
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9. Punan ang patlang.
During Ramadan, Muslims who fast do not eat or drink from dawn until sunset. The meal called iftar begins ___.
- after sunset
- before dawn
- at midday
This meal comes when the day's fast ends.
Show solution
During Ramadan, Muslims who fast do not eat or drink from dawn until sunset. The meal called iftar begins after sunset.
Many people break the fast with dates and water before continuing their meal.
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10. Punan ang patlang.
In some Chinese families, birthday noodles are served without being cut. Their length expresses a wish for a ___.
- successful career
- large family
- long life
Connect the length of the noodles with the birthday wish.
Show solution
In some Chinese families, birthday noodles are served without being cut. Their length expresses a wish for a long life.
These are often called longevity noodles. Food can carry a good wish as well as provide a meal.
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11. Piliin ang tamang sagot.
What does waiting show in this custom?
At a traditional Korean family meal, younger people often wait for the oldest person to take the first bite before they begin.
- Concern that the food is too hot
- Respect for older family members
- A wish to avoid sharing the meal
The order depends on the diners' ages.
Show solution
- Respect for older family members
Age can influence table manners in Korea, though individual families may follow different habits.
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12. Piliin ang tamang sagot.
What would normally follow the cheese in this meal?
In a traditional French meal with several courses, cheese is often served after the main dish but before dessert.
- Dessert
- The main dish
- An appetizer
Notice the order of the courses.
Show solution
- Dessert
Cheese can be a separate course rather than an appetizer. Not every French meal includes this course.
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13. Piliin ang tamang sagot.
Why might the host ask the visitor to move their chopsticks?
In Japan, chopsticks standing upright in rice are linked to ceremonies for people who have died. During lunch, a visitor leaves their chopsticks in this position.
- The position means the visitor wants more rice.
- The position tells the host that lunch was delicious.
- The position has a meaning connected with death.
An ordinary lunch is different from the ceremony described.
Show solution
- The position has a meaning connected with death.
A small chopstick rest provides a suitable place to set chopsticks down between bites.
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14. Piliin ang tamang sagot.
What should you check to avoid an unexpected charge?
In some Portuguese restaurants, bread and olives arrive before you order. They may cost extra if you eat them, even though you did not ask for them.
- Whether the olives contain pits
- Whether the bread and olives are free
- Whether the bread was baked that morning
Food placed on the table is not always free.
Show solution
- Whether the bread and olives are free
Together, these starters are often called a couvert. Asking about the cost before eating them can prevent confusion.
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15. Piliin ang tamang sagot.
Your favorite piece is on the far side of the dish. What should you do to follow this custom?
At a shared meal in a Moroccan home, each person takes food from the part of the dish nearest to them. Food directly in front of other guests is left for those guests.
- Take food from your own side instead.
- Reach across and take the piece from the far side.
- Turn the dish to bring another guest's portion toward you.
Sharing a dish does not mean taking food from every part of it.
Show solution
- Take food from your own side instead.
A shared dish can still give each diner their own eating space. Following the host's example helps you understand the custom.