We are what we eat. Food is one of human beings favorite obsessions.

Most people
spend a great deal of time physically and mentally preoccupied with food: we
organize and prepare meals, we daydream about whats for lunch or dinner; we eat.
Beyond simply an enjoyable, necessary human pastime, eating has important
implications for how we think of ourselves, and how we relate to the larger culture.
Heritage is an important factor to every family. Determine your families heritage
and how does it influence your everyday eating habits.

My family heritage.
Fathers side A European and Christian heritage. My grandfather came from a town
called Bath in south west of England. The title Jolliffe is quite common there. Bath
was famous for its locally baked buns and cakes and salted pork. The English people
ate a lot of stews, a mix of both meat and vegetables with bread. Sandwiches were
also popular food item in England. Afternoon tea with cupcakes and biscuits were
also typical in England between lunch and dinner. Pudding was part of the diet.
Christmas celebration and New Years celebration included salted beef meat,
Christmas fruit cakes.
Mothers side A Mongolian/Indian Buddhist heritage. My grandmothers and
grandfather belonged to the Lepcha tribe from Sikkim an independent Kingdom till it
joined India in 1975. The history of the Lepcha, mentions that they were animists
and lived in the forests and migrated from Mongolia many thousands of years ago.
Later when China invaded Tibet many Tibetans came to Sikkim and settled there.
The main food of the Lepcha are rice, maize, millet, fruits, vegetables. Chili peppers
are also grown and consumed. Food cooked has very less spice. Cattle like cows,
goats and pigs are domesticated and eaten. Common food in the region were
noodle soup, rice, vegetables, chicken, mutton and dumplings. Food had to be eaten
hot as the weather was always cold. Religion wise they were Buddhist and for every
festival and religious ceremony white food like milk, yoghurt, rice, cream and
cheese made from milk were eaten.
In my parents home in India we ate the following foods Breakfast consisted of
eggs fried, scrambled or made into an omelet with toasted bread, butter and Jam. At
times we ate a semolina porridge with milk and sugar. Lunch included Rice, lentil, a
vegetable curry or a non-vegetarian curry with very less spices. Salads and fruits
were always had at lunch time. The food had an Indian background and look, but
they tasted different as very less spice was used. We had afternoon tea with biscuits
or sandwiches at 4.00 pm. Dinner consisted of a soup, potato mash and green peas
with meat or vegetable stew with less spice and bread. Dumplings were also eaten
with noodle soups for dinner. Fish was not a popular item on the dining table.
Vegetables and fruits eaten revolved on a seasonal pattern and availability. During
hot weather we ate less meat and during cold weather we ate more meat. All the
vegetables were grown in our local garden at home. We raised chicken and goats at
home. During festival and social gatherings and picnics food was considered special.
My parents did not own a refrigerator, so we never stored food for long periods.
Leftovers were eaten during the next major meal. Meal times were strictly observed.

Reflecting on the foods eaten in my parents home showed a clear pattern regarding
types of food eaten by the Lepcha tribal people of Sikkim and the English people in
England. Foods prepared and consumed were locally grown and available.
I now live in Mongolia and the food that I consume with my family and our food
eating habits consist of bread, butter, cream, cheese, Yoghurt, ,stewed meats,
barbequed meat, dumplings, noodle soups, flat bread made from flour with lentils,
rice and vegetable curry with less spices. We also consume, pasta with mayonnaise,
potato and cabbage or carrot salad, goulash, which was introduced by the Russians
who occupied Mongolia for 70 years.
Thus my heritage has very strongly influenced my food eating habits in the
following ways. Food that are plain with less or no spices are preferred over the
highly spicy food. Liquids or gravy based food like stews, soups and lentils are
preferred over foods that are dry. Sweet tasting dishes are preferred over dishes
that have a sour taste. Boiled and steamed food is consumed but my first choice is
stir fried foods. A high meaty diet and a low vegetable diet. Wheat flour preferred
over rice, however rice forms part of one main meal either lunch or dinner. Green
salads are consumed at least three times a week. I love to drink milk and prefer tea
over coffee. On festive occasions food spread must include a meat dish a chicken
dish and a cake or a special pudding it must special in its preparation, looks,
flavor, texture, taste and presentation. I prefer eating food that is bought raw,
prepared and eaten rather than processed foods. Foods prepared at home or at a
camp fire site is preferred over foods served at restaurants. I prefer drinking plain
water or fresh fruit juices rather than bottled fruit juices. I never like to waste food
and preferred meals times are breakfast between 8 and 9 am, lunch 1.00 pm and
dinner between 7.00 and 8.00 pm. I am a total non-vegetarian and as age catches
up with me I am determined now to go in for a more balanced food diet. There is
always a strong connection between our heritage and preferred foods cause they
provide comfort and make us feel at home.