Lesson Plans for School, Scouts, Camp, Library or VBS : 50 Foods from Around the World

Are you planning an 'Around the World' theme for your school, church, VBS, scout troop, camp, library, 4H or community group? Need some quick, easy inexpensive food ideas that you can easily make or better yet, pull off the shelf of your local grocery store? Most all of these foods are available where you would normally shop. You will not need to make a special trip to an ethnic deli.

These foods are 'local'; they grow or are made with products from the region. You'll find ideas for over fifty different countries and six continents. Team this with my article on literature around the world and you've got a great lesson plan!

Europe:

Russia: pumpernickel bread (called 'peasant' or 'black' bread)
Poland: Pirogi (potato dumplings available in frozen food section)
Italy: Hard salami (available in deli)
Turkey: apricots
Greece: pita bread, olives, gyros (lamb, cucumber)
Turkmenistan: lamb
Crete: yogurt

Middle East (these foods listed are eaten throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean area)

Syria: eggplant
Egypt: dates
Lebanon: Lavash (flour tortilla with meat and lettuce rolled and sliced into little sandwiches)
Israel: Matzo bread, bagels
Saudi Arabia Falafel, hummus, tabula
Morocco: couscous
Iran pomegranate

Asia

Japan: almond cookie
Ceylon: tea
Sri Lanka: mangoes
China: egg roll, Bok Choy (type of lettuce found in produce)
India: curried rice, naan bread (in deli)
Java: coffee
Nepal: goat milk
Tibet: goor goor or butter tea (black tea with butter and salt) is very popular in the cold regions of Tibet.

Africa:

Liberia: yams
Kenya: plantain
cocoa, tuna, barley

Europe:

England: shortbread cookies, toffee
Scotland: scones
Ireland: corned beef, potatoes
Norway: Creamed herring
Denmark: Danish pastry
Germany: marzipan, black Forest ham, Bratwurst
Slovenia: cabbage
Hungary: sausage
Holland: Edam or Gouda cheese
France: crepes, Brie cheese, croissants
Belgium: waffles, omelets
Switzerland: Swiss cheese
Spain: olives, grapes

South America: