Tasting History

I've found that even my picky eaters have been willing to at least try a food if it's something we can relate to history or social studies.  One of the things we try to do when studying history is to get an idea of what life was like for the "everyday" people of that time and place.  When studying another country and its people and culture, we often find out that certain foods and dishes are associated with it, and why.

A side benefit I've found is that this helps me with meal planning! Generally, I don't like cooking that much, and I'm not very good about meal planning.  However, when the kids and I get together and choose recipes inspired by our history studies, it helps me to plan ahead and mix things up a little.  Occasionally we try something that everyone likes well enough that the family requests it be added to the menu plans.  I also get help in the kitchen! Score!!!! ;-)

Many books and resources that tell about daily life in times past include some information about what the staple foods were and what was likely to be eaten most often.  Many of these books that are geared towards children have some simplified recipes or suggestions.

Activity guides such as Ancient Egyptians and their Neighbors are great for finding recipes and many other hands-on ideas.  This one tells how to make Overnight Fig Cakes (ancient Egypt), lentil soup and hummus (ancient Hittites), and suggests a way to enjoy an Assyrian style feast.

Of course you don't always have to go with the "authentic" food experiences either.  Sometimes it's just fun to do something like construct Stonehenge from rice krispie squares!

Another series of activity guides that includes food ideas are the ones from Janis Herbert.

        
These three that focus on American history showed us how to make Liberty Tea Punch to enjoy as we learned about the colonists boycotting their favorite beverage and making tea from herbs and berries instead; how to make hardtack like the soldiers of the Civil War would have enjoyed depended on; and how to make a Great Plains stew such as the one described in the journals of Lewis & Clark.

In studying the history of other countries, it's easy to find information on what foods and dishes are associated with that country, and enjoying a taste of another culture might spark interest.  This past year we studied Europe and the countries of the former USSR, and enjoyed foods like: Chicken Paprika with Dumplings (Hungary); Bavarian Apple Cake; Sicilian Cake; Queso Frito (deep fried cheese sticks - Spain); Khachapuri (cheese bread - Georgia); Armenian Pizza; and Beef Stroganoff (Russia).  Stroganoff is a favorite for my kids already, and now they know how it got its name.  It is named for a Count Stroganov who popularized the dish by serving it frequently at his dinner parties.  Some of the new recipes we try, like this Greek Feta and Chicken Pie, are liked well enough by the family that they become part of our regular meal rotation.

 

Georgian cheese bread

Armenian Pizza

Sicilian Cake

Another interesting idea is to follow a particular food through history, such as bread or fried bread.  Bread has been a staple food since the earliest times, but the way it is prepared and eaten has changed and is different depending on the culture.  My favorite food to follow is chocolate!  Not just its first use by the Aztecs, but its introduction into Europe as a luxury beverage, and how different countries became known for their signature chocolates - eat a Swiss Toblerone bar! Then we learned how Ghirardelli opened a family business during the San Francisco gold rush, and that is why Ghiradelli chocolates are wrapped in gold foil; and because we are relatively near to Hershey PA, we have also learned how Milton Hershey built his business by perfecting a method of making milk chocolate.

Suggested resources (all of which I found at my local library):

• Eat Your Way Around the World by Jamie Aramini
• Holidays of the World Cookbook for Students by Lois Sinaiko Webb
• Passport on a Plate: A Round-the World Cookbook for Children by Diane Simone Vezza
• California Gold Rush Cooking by Lisa Golden Schroeder
• Ancient Egyptians and their Neighbors, Projects about Colonial Life by Marian Broida
• The American Revolution for Kids, The Civil War for Kids, Lewis and Clark for Kids, by Janis Herbert

Another TOS blogger is writing "5 Days of... Eating Around the World" for this Blog Hop, so check out her ideas at Our Homeschool Studio.


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