Now let’s talk about food. What can you tell me about eating habits in Belarus?

Food

Now let’s talk about food. What can you tell me about eating habits in Belarus?

As a rule Belarusians eat 3-4 times a day and we sometimes have shacks between meals. For breakfast we have a traditional tea usually with lemon and some cheese or ham sandwiches, some cereal or yoghurt. Breakfast time depends on the time people have to get up and go to work but normally it is from 7 to 9 am. Lunch time is between 11 and 13 am. People in Belarus don’t eat much for lunch, it can be a sandwich with a cup of coffee or some fruit. Dinner is much more important. For dinner there is usually some soup (as for me, I prefer borshch) and a second course. Supper includes something similar to the second course at dinner. It can be potato, spaghetti, meat, salads. When I’m on a diet it can be a light supper with yoghurt, kefir or fruit. Some times a day we can drink tea or coffee.

Do you like cooking? Why (not)?

Yes, I do. I like cooking but not for myself, only for someone. It’s a pleasure, when you do something for a long time and in the end you get compliments. It’s interesting to make something by hand, to create something new and delicious, to decorate dishes. But it’s an occupation that depends on mood and takes a lot of time so I cook rather rarely.

Which national dishes can you recommend a tourist to taste in Belarus?

Belarus cuisine has been changing for many centuries. It has been influenced by Russian, Ukrainian, Lithuanian and other cuisines. Traditional Belarusian dishes remain popular and are worth trying. Many dishes in our country are potato based, and I can recommend thick potato pancakes (draniki) or baked grated potato pie (babka). Other popular dishes in Belarus include pork stew (machanka), chopped beef sausage (zrazy). Our national drink is kvas and it’s very popular in summer.

What questions can you ask a waiter when you are ordering a meal in a café?

What is your dish of the day? How long will it take this dish to be ready? Is there something new or unusual in the menu? Can you advise me something? What do you recommend me for dessert?

Scientists say that fast food is unhealthy but teenagers can’t stop eating it. What do you think about it?

I have no doubt that fast food is unhealthy. But teenagers can’t stop eating it because it’s delicious, cheap and fashionable. Fast food restaurants are popular meeting places for teenagers, they have comfortable seats and free wi-fi so young people can spend lots of time their socializing, eating their favourite hamburgers and French fries and drinking cola. All these dishes are extremely unhealthy and contain a lot of harmful additives and fats. Eating fast food leads to overweight and problems with heart, blood pressure and stomach. I think, that we should take some measures to decrease its consumption, because teenagers don’t see all the harm that fast food does.

Now let’s talk about British cuisine. What do people eat in Britain?

British cuisine has been known for its specific cooking traditions and practices associated with the United Kingdom. As a rule British people have a bowl of cereals, a slice of toast, a glass of orange juice and a cup of coffee for breakfast. But a traditional English breakfast consists of eggs, bacon, sausages, fried bread, baked beans and mushrooms. This plenty of food is called full English breakfast. Even though very few people will eat this type of breakfast today, it is always served in hotels and guest houses around Britain. British food has traditionally been based on beef, lamb, pork, chicken and fish and generally served with potatoes and one more kind of vegetables. The most common and typical foods eaten in Britain include sandwiches, fish and chips, black pudding, pies and roasts dinners. And of course British people drink a lot of tea. They even have a new law which allows to have a five-o’clock-break for tea with biscuits. English tea is tea with milk and no sugar.

America is often called the country of fast food. What do you know about it?

America invented the system of fast food restaurants, made them cheap and available and it caused a lot of problems. Americans can’t stop eating hamburgers and cheeseburgers, crisps and French fries. They drink Cola and other fizzy drinks which contain a lot of sugar. Fast food is tasty, easy to get, doesn’t take any time for cooking and rather cheap. But it’s extremely unhealthy. Eating fast food leads to overweight and causes heart and liver problems.

What questions can you ask a British friend about their national cuisine?

What are traditional dishes in British cuisine? Do you have typical appetizers? What are your dishes based on? Are there any traditional drinks, soft and alcohol? You always eat porridge for breakfast, don’t you? Do you prefer tea with milk or tea with lemon?

What would you advise a person who has been invited to a potluck dinner?

I know that potluck dinner is a traditional British and American party when all the guests are asked to bring a dish with them. I would advise to ask a host or a hostess how many people were invited, because the dish should be big enough for everybody to try. I would recommend to cook a pie or a cake as this dessert is popular at any party.

A lot of pupils refuse to have meals at school. What do you think about it?

I think that it’s necessary, because food helps us think. At school pupils spend a lot of time, moreover all this time their brain is working. So they should have nutritious food. Also it’s harmful for health to be hungry. And school takes care about pupils and teachers, so it’s important for pupils to have meals at school.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-04