Food in Europe

I have started to taste the food from the Swish Airline. I liked the food they served. I found they are not processed and have good taste and quality.

I have tasted food in some European countries, like Switzerland, Germany, Italy, and France. I found that food in Switzerland is very expensive but of good quality. In Italy and France, food is much cheaper than in Canada. But the quality of food is much better. In these two countries, you can find a variety of cultural foods, including Halal options, that are affordable and of good quality.

I wish food prices would go down and stay at a reasonable level. Then people would have to buy more healthy food and stay healthy in life. Healthy people mean a good workforce for the country and less pressure on hospitals and care homes. People might have visited more restaurants. The food, restaurant and grocery business would have done better. Moreover, the travellers would have come to visit more to have a wide variety of food in Toronto.

Biye Bareer khabar (Food from the marriage ceremony)

 In Bangladesh, the food arrangements for the marriage ceremony are considered the best. People say that the food is comparable to what is served at a marriage, which helps you understand how good it is. As they say, the chicken roast from the biye barir (the home where the marriage is taking place) is especially delightful.

Sometimes I hear Bangladeshi people say, 'It's been a long time since I attended or ate at a wedding.' They miss the food. I also miss that food too.

Sometimes people get upset because they are not invited to a wedding. In most cases, they are not upset about missing the ceremony but about the food.

I heard people comparing or judging the food arrangement at a marriage ceremony. They said that the food wasn't cooked enough, didn't taste good, or that somewhere else was great, etc. They judge the bride's parents for not arranging a good marriage ceremony or food arrangement.

In my childhood, I enjoyed the marriage ceremony programs and food as well. They looked very delightful. After growing up, I realized how difficult and costly it is for a bride's parent to arrange everything. It requires time, money, energy, and people's judgments, especially from the groom's family. On the other hand, no matter how poorly the groom's family arranges the program, the bride's family can never speak badly, or they will make the bride's life difficult.

I think we should all be thankful to the bride's family regardless of how they arrange the ceremony. We should appreciate their effort and accept all mistakes and poor decisions. It's not only for the bride's family; anyone who arranges food for you, don't judge them, and try to enjoy the food and moments with them.

Biography 328: Controlling weight

 People who are in good health have no idea how far a person will go to lose weight. 

Since my teenage years, I have been trying to control my food intake and started exercising. I have tried many methods I found online, were suggested by friends and family, and were suggested by doctors and nutritionists. I have tried keto, among others. All of them work at first, but my body finds a way to adapt and I start gaining weight.

My doctor gave me Ozempic to lose weight. After controlling my food intake and doing some light exercise, I was still gaining weight. I tried for months, but my weight kept going up. So the doctor stopped it. I am still having trouble with my weight. I didn't stop trying. I will keep trying. But that doesn't mean I will be disheartened. I am still overweight. From my perspective, maybe it is me. If I have to live with that, I will.

Biography 326: Food for my parents

 My parents never asked me anything. Though I have started earning before my MSc results come out. I was use to take money and treats from my parents. However, I have bought food a few times for my family, I mean for my parents and siblings. I found they became very happy. I felt good. At least someone appreciates my efforts.

Enjoying food at a restaurant.

 Enjoying food at a restaurant in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

My food journey these days.

 I'm a foodie. I enjoy trying different cuisines and types of food. I usually prepare various dishes by following recipes. At first, I used recipes from a cookbook. I started with Siddika Kabir's recipes. Later, I began following recipes on YouTube, then on Instagram and Facebook. 

These days, I have food restrictions on many foods. I also lack the time and energy to follow recipes and cook. Still, I try. I have almost stopped ordering food from outside, which helps save money and maintain my health. Sometimes, when I can't cook, I just eat fruit or snacks to hold me over, and then I cook when I can.

Whenever I shop (mostly online), I try to bring some ready-to-eat meals so that when I can't cook, I have something to eat. It's expensive, but very helpful.

I wish I had a personal cook who would make meals for me.

An Ad which have a very good message

It's a "https://www.threads.com/" link and in the Hindi language.

 What makes your feed tasty

Biography 293: Some memories at Barua Sir's home - E

 At Barua Sir's math coaching classes, we don't only study math; sometimes we discuss other simple topics, argue, or share opinions. It's not that we intentionally set up these kinds of sessions; it just happens organically. Sometimes, Sir has to stop us to save our coaching time.

One day we started talking about ediction. Not about drugs, but about eating Paan (Betel Quid) or cigarettes, which is a very common habit in Bangladesh. Well, we weren't talking about how other people are doing; we were talking about how our family members are doing.

I told them about my father. He had stopped talking to Paan several times, but he started again, saying he would have just one after dinner or lunch. Then it began increasing, with him having it at every meal. He used to say he didn't look good without Paan. We tried many times to stop him, but failed.

In the meantime, Mrs. Brua started talking from inside the house. She always listened to us, sometimes joining our conversations as if she were a member of our team. She was saying, "To whom are you saying this? Ask your teacher how many times he stopped taking tea!"

That was new information. No teacher talks about their bad habits. Sir smiled and said, "She was talking about his tea habit." I didn't know tea could be a bad habit. Sir said, "He drinks tea 30/40 times a day with milk and sugar."

Now we are surprised; is that even possible? Sir, he said, he is trying to reduce it. Again, Madam said, "He reduced it quite a few times, but then went back to full mode."

Food stalls at street fairs

 In summer (Canada), different kinds of fairs are being organized everywhere. Nearly every fair has food stalls/trucks established. Some events feature food from different communities. People visit and try to taste foods from various cultures. However, you'll find that most of the foods are not delicious. Some are not even good enough to eat. Paying more for such food isn't acceptable.

I think, before giving permission to any food stall, all vendors should be checked and tasted by the authorities. Given how things are going, later people may not feel like eating food at any street fair.

Biography 281: The cow only eats when my dad prepares the food.

My dad bought a cow for the Qurbani. Our home helper (a boy) followed my parents' instructions and prepared the food. The cow didn't touch it, so we didn't know what to do next.

Then my dad prepared the food, and the cow started eating. I couldn't find the difference, but there must be something. My dad said he had cows in their house. He used to prepare food for them, so he knew how to make food for them.

The cow we bought must be from good care. That's why if the food isn't prepared perfectly, it doesn't touch.

Some important issues to remember about food serving in corporate meetings or home

 We live in a multicultural world. Everybody has different food habits, fasting days, and spice levels. So, when we arrange a corporal party or even any house party, the host must consider all of these.

If we need to arrange a food party in the daytime during the month of Ramadan, Muslims won't be able to eat anything. In this case, I recommend serving food in a box. So, if anyone wants to eat right on the spot, they can eat it. Anyone who wants to take it home or away and eat it later can easily do it.

When we serve food, we should make a small note by mentioning main ingredients like beef, mutton, Fish, or Halal. We can also mention whether it is vegetarian or vegan.

If we can provide two kinds of food, Halal and vegan, then everybody will be able to enjoy it. Nonveg people can eat halal meat, and vegetarians can enjoy vegan food.

Again, everybody can enjoy the beverages with non-alcoholic drinks, like a mocktail.

Still, we should be careful about allergic items. That is why that tiny note in front of the food is important. You can mention that it has nuts or milk products, etc.

Don't waste any parts of food.

 I try not to waste anything, especially food. A few days ago, I tried something new with cabbage by watching a recipe video. In that recipe, the chef squeezed the graded cabbage and asked to throw out the water. 

I didn't like that. As chefs, they shouldn't say that. They must be encouraged to utilize any part of the food. 

I kept the water. It was nutrient-rich from the cabbage. Later, I cooked rice with that water. Yes, I added more water, oil, salt, and lemon juice. The rice had a beautiful aroma and taste, and I didn't have to waste the water from the cabbage.

Biography 256: Korma

 Eid means happiness. My mom used to cook Polao (Fragrant Rice), Korma (Chicken with sweet yogurt), Kabab, etc. I loved her Korma. I remember that, on one Eid, I ate polao with Korma too many times, and before the guests came, everything was finished. By the way, I wasn't alone who ate Korma. Mom had to cook again. It was difficult to cook for a long time in the kitchen during summer hot weather. For me, Eid means I have to eat Korma made by my mom.

Nowadays, I always try to make Korma in Eid. But my one never tasted like my mom's.

Whenever I get an invitation to Eid, I ask, did you make Korma? People may think, they have made some items, still I am looking for Korma, how greedy. No wonder she has gotten lots of extra weight.

The government should always have control over food prices.

 When you let the greedy corporations increase food prices, those corporations will earn 2/3 times more profit each year. What will be the impact on the rest of the country? It will collapse.

People's earnings are very limited. They had to buy food to survive, no matter how much it cost. So, they won't invest money on clothes, furniture, travel, restaurants, or any other issue, no matter how much they need to have those. So, these companies will go bankrupt. The country won't get enough tax money from the organizations. 

The big corporations making billions of profit have big lawyers to find loopholes to give tax. The general people, who earn very little, give taxes. The government can't ignore these people.

So, finally, the government will collapse.

That's why the government should always have control over food prices. There is no place to show greediness on essential items of life.

Healthy food in educational organizations

 In colleges and universities, every floor should have a kitchen corner where a student or students can make fresh food and sell it. This way a student can learn and experience how to run a restaurant/food truck and also they will earn some money. At the same time, other students and teachers can have fresh food on their floor so that they don't have to run to other places to get food when they starving.

The educational organization can provide some funds, other organizations or government also can contribute in the fund to help the student and serve food in less price (or free) to the students and teachers (or visitors). This way the student won't have less profit and other students will be able to get good food.

We all want good health for the students for the future of Canada. This way, we can save students from eating fast/junk food ( which is very unhealthy for them).

The building safety monitoring group will check all food services regularly to ensure all safe plans have been followed.

Documenting recipe

 People grow up with many childhood memories, and food takes a significant place among them. What we liked or used to eat, stays with our memories. On many occasions, we try to recreate those memories. Sometimes, it becomes impossible because we don't have the recipe for that food.

Nowadays, YouTubers are doing a great job of creating recipe videos. Their intention may be to earn money, but this way, many traditional and new recipes are documented in videos and sometimes in blogs. I really appreciate it.

Both my mother and I started cooking by following Siddika Kabir's recipe. She was a legend. I hope somebody will translate all her recipes and make them available to people from all over the world.

Biography 210: The aroma was nice

 Sometimes, we do good work and expect something good in return. Then, we fail to have it; instead, we get humiliated for that. But we should keep doing good, no matter what results come. Because Allah is counting all your good deeds, and you will get the result of it someday, in this life, after your death.

It's not an example, just a tiny thing that happened in my life. I went to Shamsunnahar Hall, The University of Dhaka's women's dormitory. My friend Ratna got a bed to stay because her home was outside Dhaka city. Shumi and I didn't get that chance because our home was in Dhaka. When we had whole-day classes, at noon, during the lunch break, we used to take a rest in Ratna's room.

There were three beds in the room, and Ratna had to share her room with two senior girls. It was good for her that she got help and was trained to live in the Hall. The room was quite big with a big balcony. Girls had their own burner to cook.

When I entered the room at noon, maybe I was starving—I don't remember—but I smelled something cooking, and it was good. So, I told them what you guys were cooking, and it smelt very nice. One senior girl showed me a burner. They were just warming up the oil, and I smelled only the oil. They laughed out loud. They thought I did this to impress them.

This doesn't mean I won't tell anybody whenever I smell something good. If anyone is cooking and you smell it nice, tell them. They will feel better. Giving joy to others is a very good thing. You never know who is going through which problem. Maybe just a small gesture will make someone's day. That's not a small thing.

Biography 207: Restaurant in Bagerhat (Bangladesh)

 Bagerhat is a beautiful small town in Bangladesh. It has rivers around the city and one 60 domes masjeed. The sweets of Bagerhat are very tasty and not comparable with others.

I have been there for our field tour in Masters from the University of Dhaka. During lunchtime, we found a restaurant near our hotel. We asked them for lunch. They bring rice and curry, but all of them are cold. I wondered if the taste wasn't good enough to eat. I asked them why they didn't serve warm food. The restaurant manager and other staff started laughing at us. They said you should have come when we cooked. Now, all became cold.

What kind of logic is that! I was surprised, but the confidently they said it, I didn't argue with them. Then we try another restaurant. Same result. There is no way that we can eat that food. Finally, we found a Chinese restaurant. The condition of that restaurant was very poor. The carpets were torn up here and there. I found only one person at the front desk, no other staff. He took our orders and went back inside. I guessed he was the cook, too.

But the food was first-class. It was very tasty and warm. After returning to the hotel, we informed all the other students about that restaurant where they could find something to eat. I guess for a couple of days, he had good business.

Article: "School lunches in France: nursery-school gourmets."

 School Lunches in France 

The article's main point (School lunches in France: nursery-school gourmets by Walt, V. 2010, February) is to compare school lunches in the USA and France and inform the audience about how healthy and prosperous the French lunch system is. The writer compares them nicely and describes how a parent feels about them. 

There are a couple of supplementary messages in this article. For example, in France, students will have healthy food habits and won't become bored with the menu because they get 5-course meals daily, "… including an hors d'oeuvre, salad, main course, cheese plate and dessert" (Walt, 2010, para.3).; these menus don't repeat in 32 days. Also, there is no school vending machine for snacks and beverages. They also included students' parents in the meal system by suggesting what students may eat for dinner. The parents might not know what their kids are learning, but they understand what they eat at lunch. The writer also told the audience in a fun way that Americans wonder how French people can be so trim and fit after taking lots of cheese, cream, and cake. Some thoughts are it must be the wine. The kids learn what to eat and have good food habits before they know how to hold a knife. 

The article's context was that the writer was amazed by the school lunch system; it feels like they wanted to have the same in America, too, because American food habits help people gain weight, which is unhealthy. 

The themes and keywords of this article, such as Good Food Habit, Good Food System in Schools, Eating Healthy, French School, and American School, underscore the importance of nurturing our children's food habits for their overall health. This emphasis should leave the audience concerned and motivated to advocate for healthier school food habits. 

My ideas are not only because of food habits; we should start making fresh for food safety. Food becomes unsafe if we keep it at an average room temperature for 2 hours. After packing lunch, it takes more than 2 hours for the children to eat during their break. If we want a healthy child for our future generation, we must be cautious with our children's food habits. 

Reference:

Walt, V. (2010, February). School lunches in France: nursery-school gourmets. Time

 http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,1969729-1,00.html

Turning off the TV while dining

As much as I can remember, I used to eat with my parents in my childhood. During my teenage age, I started taking plates from the table and going to the living room to sit in front of the TV. I used to eat while watching TV. I thought I was utilizing my time. Watching TV and eating.

My dad didn't like it. He always said this is not a good habit. You should sit at a table to eat your meal. And shouldn't watch the TV while you are dining. I didn't disagree with him in those days, but I also thought my idea was better. So, I didn't listen to him.

Nowadays, my son wants to play games and eat food. Obviously, I didn't allow it. I let him watch the news during breakfast while he is having breakfast together at the dining table. At lunchtime, if he wants (He generally doesn't wish to except for holidays), he can watch a movie, but he has to eat together at the table. During dinner time, I close all the screens. Now, only he can see each other's faces and talk while eating together at the table.

Sometimes, he doesn't like the food I cook. I knew he had certain choices. At that time, I let him take food to his game table so he didn't waste it. While playing a game, he can finish his bowl slowly.

I hope my plan works for all generations. I hope I am keeping my father's words now (By taking food together on a table, not in the living room).