Riley’s Rainforest: A Big Helping of Unity
“Send down ... from the clouds of Thy mercy the rains of Thy healing ...” — Bahá’u’lláh
What do a birthday party, a picnic, and a wedding all have in common? They’re events where people get together, have fun—and eat delicious food.
Everybody needs food to generate energy for work and play. But food is more than an energy source, like batteries for your camera. In every culture, food helps build unity among families and communities.
Have your parents ever made your favorite dish to celebrate an accomplishment or cheer you up when you’re down? Food can convey family love. In Japan, mothers traditionally preparing attractive boxed lunches for their kids called obento. The foods are often carefully shaped into animals or flowers.
Some researchers have found that dining with your family can have dramatic effects. Teens who rarely eat dinner with their families are 72% likelier to use alcohol, cigarettes, and illegal drugs. Teens who almost always eat family dinners are 31% less likely than average to try these dangerous behaviors.*
Gathering to share food is also an important part of many religions. Bahá’ís celebrate the Nineteen Day Feast, which includes a social portion where food is served. For the Jewish Sabbath, a prayer is said over sweet bread called challah. Many Christians share bread in honor of the Last Supper that Jesus had with His followers.
The next time you’re enjoying food with your family or community, think about who prepared the food and why. A friend or family member may be nourishing your spirit as well as your body.
Explore and Soar: Delicious Hummus
This delicious dip is full of protein and loved throughout the Middle East.
You’ll need:
- 1 large can of chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained. OR 2 cups of boiled garbanzo beans, drained.
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/2 cup tahini (sesame butter)
- 3 tablespoons hot water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt (to taste)
- Cumin (optional)
- 2 cloves of garlic (optional)
- Chopped parlsey (optional)
What you do:
Rinse the beans with water. Mash them into a paste with a fork, potato masher, or food processor (works best). Mash the garlic and add the salt and lemon juice to it. Add the garlic mixture and tahini to the beans and mix well. If the hummus is dry, add hot water. Place the hummus on a plate. Sprinkle with a bit of cumin and parsley for decoration. Pour olive oil on top. Serve with pita bread.
Curiosity Canopy: Travel the Globe
Did you know that you can take your family on a week-long journey without leaving home? Spin a globe and stop it with one finger. Wherever your finger lands is where you’ll “visit.” Learn some words in the language, try out a recipe, read a book, or watch a movie about the country. How is the culture like yours? How is it different?
For a printed version, download a PDF of this page.
Photos: AzmanJaka, Jacob Wackerhausen, fcafotodigital, DjelicS
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