Culturally preferable foods are those that acknowledge and appreciate the experiences, traditions, and diverse preferences of a group of people. Food is an important part of culture and often is an expression of one’s identity, values, and beliefs. The types of food we eat and the ways in which we prepare, and share food carry significant meaning for people of all cultures.
B.C. is the most ethnically diverse province in Canada, and school food programs can provide a means of building intercultural interaction, trust and understanding. School food programs can also provide a way to validate student identity from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds. The foods served in schools carry unspoken messages about which foods are valued as “normal” and this, in turn, places value on the cultures represented (and not represented) by these foods.
Food can evoke strong emotional feelings of comfort and security, and for students, seeing their heritage in the food shared with their peers can be a powerful experience. With time and when authentically prepared, culturally appropriate menu items can create a lot of excitement and become the most popular items served on a menu.
Breaking Bread
Breaking bread with classmates fosters respect and celebrates cultural foods worldwide. Emphasizing cultural days in schools invites community involvement, connecting all through the universal bond of food.
Video: Andrew George, Chef Instructor and Director of Truth and Reconciliation for SkilledTrades BC.
Suggestions for incorporating culturally preferable foods
- Have leadership students or a multicultural club engage with the student body on what foods they would like to see on the menu. What food traditions are being ignored? Do students have family recipes they want to contribute?
- Try serving sample-sized portions of dishes alongside a regular entree the week before the item is being served, to allow students a chance to taste it.
- Consider having diverse condiments available to make regular menu items more appealing or familiar (spices, hot sauces, kimchi, etc.).
- Encourage community buy-in: Invite input from parents and community members and create menus that celebrate the cultural diversity of the student body and their families.
- Incorporate signage with pictures, facts about the food’s origins, and other appropriate information (like when an item might appear on the menu). This can be posted in the cafeteria or on social media channels.
- Pass out recipe cards with versions of the recipe scaled to serve a family meal, including some facts about the food and other information.
- Write up a short piece for morning announcements or host a menu reading to let students know what’s coming and get excited for it.
- Allow teachers opportunities to learn about culturally diverse menu items and create curricular connections before they are served.
- Find a partner to help with the process, such as a multicultural society.
- Don’t give up after the first try. As with introducing any new product, not everything is going to work right away – you must be willing to take a risk and give it time to catch on.
- If needed, have conversations with your class about respectful behaviour when trying new foods.
Indigenous Ways of Knowing: Prior to colonization, some First Nations people made bannock-type breads using plants, such as camas bulbs, harvested from their territories. When supplies such as flour and baking soda were made available through trade, First Nations and Métis people were introduced to new food preparation methodologies and combining them with Indigenous knowledge and ingredients to make bannock-like bread. With colonization, bannock became a survival food for those where movement and ability to gather food for their families was limited. Bannock holds the tension of being both a sign of cultural ingenuity and a reminder of the devastating impacts of colonialism on Indigenous foodways.
Nourishing Roots
Integrating traditional foods from different cultures, including First Nation, Métis and Inuit communities, into school curriculums nourishes more than the body; it feeds the soul and connects students to their roots. Such initiatives not only preserve culinary heritage but also instill a sense of pride and belonging. We would like to respectfully acknowledge that not everyone celebrates the holidays mentioned in this video.
Video: Attendees of the Métis Nation BC Conference 2023.
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