As a culture, we’ve became so used to our own habits, that we are often unaware of some that may be changing.

Cultural foods, changed eating habits, and fast food have grown in popularity. Shown dramatically at the recent Global Dialogue Luncheon, the revelation may have caught one off guard.

With an extensive variety of food and traditions that surround us, society has incorporated the variety into our everyday lives and we do not even differentiate between foods of other cultures. At the Global Dialogue Lunch, students were able to expand their knowledge of different cultures, food, and understand the difference of some cultures.

While the theme of this lunch was, “You are what you eat,” students were taught how the eating habits of our society are beginning to change, not just in the United States, but also around the world.

Penn State Brandywine student, Catherine Mills, left the event with a whole other perspective on cultural eating habits. “I was shocked to find out that many of the ingredients weren’t processed in other countries. I, on the other hand, live in a country where a majority of the food I eat is processed,” said Mills.

By way of comparison, other cultures will take the time to sit down with their family for meals regularly. In this luncheon, guest speakers taught our audience the ways other countries handle their meals through the day, and even the way they are eaten. In other countries, meals are not rushed and in some situations, taken very seriously.

“We don’t take the time to enjoy food like other countries do, but we should,” Mills added about her experience.

Some cultures will spend hours preparing an important meal. They also are very picky, using only the freshest ingredients, that are, many times, home grown. Surprising to American culture, some cultures will even butcher their own animals for the meats of the meals.

With every country, there are differences in their outside food and home food eating habits, but that’s what makes learning these different traditions so interesting. With every country comes another culture. It just proves that two countries’ cultures will never be the same.

Lion’s Eye Staff Writer
Nathaniel Forwood, Nlf5120@psu.edu