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New cuisines, new tastes

A Cooking Challenge for 11-14 year olds

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The Challenge

UK food culture is a melting pot of traditions, flavours, ingredients and culinary techniques.

Prepare and cook a dish, or range of dishes, which showcases our modern, diverse food culture.

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Let’s get started – the Challenge is on!

Name at least five ingredients, food or dishes that you identify as typical of UK cuisine.

Why have you chosen these in particular?

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Did you know?

According to a YouGov poll in 2021, the top eight most popular British dishes were:

Dish

Popularity

Chips

86%

English breakfast

85%

Roast chicken

83%

Fish and chips

83%

Mashed potatoes

80%

Roast beef

77%

Beans on toast

74%

Soup

74%

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What do you eat at home?

Name a dish or recipe that your family regularly eats at home.

Describe the dish or recipe to the person next to you.

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UK food culture

List the factors that have influenced the UK food culture and what we buy, make and eat.

Did you include:

  • world trade;
  • immigration;
  • foreign travel;
  • developments in technology;
  • changes in family dynamics.

Was there anything else?

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Foods from around the world

British cuisine accounts for over half of the meals eaten out but cuisines from around the world are becoming increasingly popular.

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Did you know?

Some food and drink-related traditions are currently recognised by UNESCO and its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, including:

  • Lavash, a bread, which plays an important ceremonial role in Armenian weddings, where sheets of the bread are draped over the bride and groom’s shoulders to signal future prosperity.
  • Mediterranean diet of Spain (and six other countries including Italy, Portugal, Morocco, Croatia, Cyprus, and Greece), concentrating on celebrating the rituals and processes that make this diet an important part of these countries.
  • Couscous made in Algeria, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia and the knowledge associated with how it is produced.
  • The city of Naples’ trademark technique of making pizza.

Lavash bread

Couscous

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Different ingredients add flavour, colour and texture to food

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Dishes from around the world to inspire you

Jeon - Korea

Gyros - Greece

Tteokbokki - South Korea

Mac and cheese - America

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Dishes from around the world to inspire you

Barbacoa - Mexico

Karē - Japan

Sarma - Turkey

Tagliatelle al ragù alla Bolognese - Italy

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Dishes from around the world to inspire you

Pizza Margherita – Naples, Italy

Mooncake – China

Pad Thai – Thailand

Paella - Spain

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Breads from around the world – how many have you tried?

Arepa - Venezuela and Colombia

English muffin - England

Obi non - Afghanistan

Soda bread – Ireland

Chapatti - India

Pitta – Middle East

Challah - Israel

Pretzel - Germany

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The Eatwell Guide

We should all be following the healthy eating model. In the UK, this is known as the Eatwell Guide.

The Eatwell Guide shows the proportions in which different groups of foods are needed in order to have a well-balanced and healthy diet.

The proportions shown are representative of food eaten over a day or more, not necessarily at each mealtime.

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Healthy eating and sustainable diets – applying your knowledge

We should all be choosing a variety of different foods from each food group to help get the wide range of nutrients the body needs to stay healthy.

Following the Eatwell Guide can also be good for the environment/planet, as well as your own health.

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Planning

Consider the cuisine that you are going to showcase. 

How will you show the different flavours, ingredients and culinary techniques?

Put together your plan!

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The Challenge

UK food culture is a melting pot of traditions, flavours, ingredients and culinary techniques.

Prepare and cook a dish, or range of dishes, which showcases our modern, diverse food culture.

Good luck!

www.foodafactoflife.org.uk © Food – a fact of life 2021