tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post7531203641870178222..comments2024-01-29T19:23:58.553-07:00Comments on Indian Food Rocks: The Last BastionIndian Food Rockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397829480472038159noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-79164217916108156572011-08-18T11:00:02.298-06:002011-08-18T11:00:02.298-06:00That's a bummer! We're lucky coz there is ...That's a bummer! We're lucky coz there is a diversity of ethnic backgrounds at our school and even the administration supports by having a International Potluck night, where we feast on food from all the different nationalities.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-69593634632848887072008-09-11T23:05:00.000-06:002008-09-11T23:05:00.000-06:00Pel, Manju and Sheetal, thanks for sharing your t...<B>Pel</B>, <B>Manju</B> <I>and </I> <B>Sheetal</B><I>, thanks for sharing your thoughts!</I><BR/><BR/><I>Now here's something I would like to share. It's a minor victory of sorts. I made a veggie curry today that was a huge hit at dinner. The sauce is rather like the makhani sauce but has no cream. I used poppy seeds, sesame seeds and also threw in some almonds for good measure. After dinner, there was a request that tomorrow's lunch should be this veggie curry with a bread and butter sandwich. If you felt the earth shake beneath you, that was me doing cartwheels. So yay! <BR/><BR/>She had to come to this point herself and I am surprised that it came so soon. Still, you never know. I might be counting my chickens before they are hatched. <BR/><BR/>Children, especially girls, are <A HREF="http://dailytiffin.blogspot.com/2008/01/girls-are-mean.html" REL="nofollow">mean, mean, mean</A> and there's no telling when the innate nastiness will surface, like what happened yesterday. Their school's largest fund raiser is a Jogathon where you can be sponsored a dollar amount for each lap you run or it could be flat amount. This is Medha's third and until this year, 12 laps (1.5 miles) in 20 mins was her best. This year she did 14 laps. When I hugged and congratulated her for doing well because I know her limitations, there was a girl standing close by who laughed because 14 is more of a straggler's score. The average number of laps is more like 16 and 17. That this child only did 12 did not matter. What was more important to her was to put someone else down. Unfortunately, I did not see her as I was busy hugging my child before being bustled out of there otherwise she would have got a earful from me. <BR/><BR/>So the long and short of it is that I don't know what the outcome will be but it's very important that she has taken the first step. I am proud of her. </I>Indian Food Rockshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13397829480472038159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-14773000091260119182008-09-11T20:39:00.000-06:002008-09-11T20:39:00.000-06:00Gosh, Manisha! The things kids have to face these ...Gosh, Manisha! The things kids have to face these days! I remember lunch-break being the most exciting part of the day ... ... there were just so many things to taste and experience!! I remember I would polish my friend Leena's khakra's before the poor thing had a chance to take a few bites. And the darling that she was, would quietly eat my "bhaaji-poli" in return. <BR/><BR/>I am sure as Medha grows older, she will find positive ways to assert herself and enjoy the same food she loves so much at home. <BR/><BR/>I am a big fan of til, and here, it's in combination with my all time favorite -- potatoes. I am definitely going to try this :DSheetal Kiranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03998065537578155120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-29505246630322902762008-04-09T18:07:00.000-06:002008-04-09T18:07:00.000-06:00You're a wise mother to allow Medha to find her wa...You're a wise mother to allow Medha to find her way. As she grows older, I think her friends may also mature in their taste buds and will be more willing to try something "outside the box." I didn't have the luxury of a mother who made lunch for me, but my youngest brother did and he got "yuck" comments until junior high school. By then, my mother was packing enough lunch to feed 6 people everyday because everyone wanted a taste of his lunch! The thing that changed everyone's opinion? Dumplings. Whether it's Japanese gyoza, Indian samosas, Chinese potstickers or Polish pierogies, everyone loves a tasty hand-sized treat. Send little Medha our aloha.ThreeTasteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07065499935315038435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-9781421305876095872008-03-31T22:37:00.000-06:002008-03-31T22:37:00.000-06:00And then, too, think of the savings! If all of Med...And then, too, think of the savings! If all of Medha's school-friends started trying your cooking you'd soon be broke from having to pack extra! Gotta look at the bright side... :-)Pelicanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00858951498917328458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-11483842907348410782008-03-31T22:14:00.000-06:002008-03-31T22:14:00.000-06:00Yeah...you should have seen me and my continuous i...Yeah...you should have seen <I>me</I> and my continuous international parade in the break-rooms of some of my former employment establishments! But Medha isn't obnoxious like me... :-D I purposely would bring things like squid avec tentacles and offer them around...Indian vegetable dishes now, well it parts the seas: people who like vegetables were intrigued and often wanted to taste everything, and then there were those who were strangers to the produce department who looked on in horror! I think one day Medha will not be so much affected by the opinions of others; you're doing the right thing by letting her judge her own steps, frustrating as it might be right now. Things change, and I think much of this is her age and wanting to fit in right now.Pelicanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00858951498917328458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-80709351275849003362008-03-31T15:47:00.000-06:002008-03-31T15:47:00.000-06:00ISG, so you're pretty sure that in your daughter's...<B>ISG</B><I>, so you're pretty sure that in your daughter's case it was a case of bullying? Good for her that she stood up to the bullies!<BR/><BR/>In our case, I am not entirely sure that it is bullying. </I><BR/><BR/><B>Anita</B><I>, and you will surely come back to tell me how you liked or did not like it? Surely?</I>Indian Food Rockshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13397829480472038159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-66841623418047256142008-03-31T00:01:00.000-06:002008-03-31T00:01:00.000-06:00Of course...Thanks for the recipe (at last!)...wil...Of course...<BR/>Thanks for the recipe (at last!)...will surely try it. :DAnitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06002754872631420601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-80702091131309547722008-03-30T12:44:00.000-06:002008-03-30T12:44:00.000-06:00Manisha, it no way means she actually felt that wa...Manisha, it no way means she actually felt that way about the kids food actually quiet the opposite, it was her way of ending the bullying. Kids are tiny adults, when they find out they cannot get away with it, they stop. By nature she is very laid back and easy going so the reaction told me something about what was going on.indosungodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11556193051268397994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-50020864045906087722008-03-30T12:32:00.000-06:002008-03-30T12:32:00.000-06:00Anita, she just wants to be a normal boring kid an...<B>Anita</B><I>, she just wants to be a normal boring kid and hates it when the spotlight is trained on her. <BR/><BR/>And...nothing about the post actually having a recipe in it? Or that you will surely try it? Hmmph!</I>Indian Food Rockshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13397829480472038159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-56539548354400652902008-03-30T12:24:00.000-06:002008-03-30T12:24:00.000-06:00Medha can be sure that as time passes, she will be...Medha can be sure that as time passes, she will be made to feel quite the opposite!<BR/>But there is time till then... and it has got to be really hard for kids her age. Kids can be mean.<BR/>As a parent you seem to have handled it quite well: supporting and at the same time, finding ways for her to have the food she does enjoys.<BR/>There is a lot kids have to deal with today...more than we had to. ...even more if one is 'different'.Anitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06002754872631420601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-19016656878959175422008-03-30T11:20:00.000-06:002008-03-30T11:20:00.000-06:00Rita, it's great to have your perspective. And yes...<B>Rita</B><I>, it's great to have your perspective. And yes, not everyone is cosmopolitan. The good news is that the school district is bringing healthy foods back into the lunch menu.</I>Indian Food Rockshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13397829480472038159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-3160639183710052092008-03-30T11:03:00.000-06:002008-03-30T11:03:00.000-06:00Bee, that's really strange. Bread and butter was q...<B>Bee</B><I>, that's really strange. Bread and butter was quite the norm for many of us, based on the few years that I do remember in Bombay. I had hoped that things would be different here but it's not.</I><BR/><BR/><B>Kitty</B><I>, it would be unfair to say that all kids are like that. There are a couple of kids who tell the others to shut up when they see the hurt expression on Medha's face. Perhaps the food is supposed to remain exotic and not appear in a lunch box at school. Like your tandoori chicken, for which I would have given my right arm had I been in your school!<BR/><BR/>Here's an incident that happened a couple of months ago: Medha was working with another kid on a research project. After a couple of days, the kid asked Medha: "No offence but are you a black?" Medha looked at her arm and said: "I think I am more of a brown." This was an innocent exchange but it is very telling of the general awareness that exists.</I><BR/><BR/><B>Alpa</B><I>, we seem to have gone through this in one way or another. I am beginning to view this as just another aspect of the negative behavior that children might experience from other kids in school - something Cynthia touched on earlier.</I><BR/><BR/><B>John</B><I>, I hate it, too especially since I noticed a couple of mistakes in my previous comment. Blogger does not let us edit our comments - yet. I still remember the days when comments were not possible on Blogger!<BR/><BR/>Do try this recipe. It's very easy. You can up the heat by adding more red chillies. The mustard seeds, sesame seeds and cumin seeds add a great crunch and nuttiness to the potatoes. It helps to use a thick or a heavy bottomed pan so that at least one side of each piece of potato becomes nice and crispy. Some crispy bits will stick to the pan and that's okay. Scrape them off and mix them into the rest of the potatoes.<BR/><BR/>With a little more self-confidence and a little more maturity, I think Medha will be able to handle this. On most days, she is simply hurt and bewildered at how rude the other kids are.<BR/><BR/>I really do like Kitt's suggestion a lot.</I>Indian Food Rockshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13397829480472038159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-23360592680128409472008-03-30T10:58:00.000-06:002008-03-30T10:58:00.000-06:00I think it is so sad, in America, where so many di...I think it is so sad, in America, where so many diverse people live, that children are not excited to see what interesting and delicious foods your daughter has brought in her lunch. They should be having food envy! <BR/><BR/>As Kitt has suggested, perhaps some oportunities for the deprived children to experience some delicious Indian food could change this. Also, understanding about other parts of the world and the cultures is helpful.<BR/><BR/>So many American children eat such overly processed food which to me is disgusting. So many will only eat very bland, processed food which in no way resembles its origins.<BR/><BR/>Also, the other children's responses are based in their ignorance, due to lack of someone (parents) teaching them that it is not okay to make remarks like that about what someone is eating. I always have to wonder about the parent's attitudes toward people who are different, not like them. Even though you live in a cosmopolitan area, not everyone is cosmopolitan. <BR/><BR/>This is about teaching tolerance and respect for ALL people. We have more similarities than we have differences.Ritahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13764379862617396667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-11272981969901519732008-03-30T06:29:00.000-06:002008-03-30T06:29:00.000-06:00[Replaced comment: I hate it when I read my commen...[Replaced comment: I hate it when I read my comment and find spelling or grammatical errors!]<BR/><BR/>Manisha, it's disheartening to me to hear about kids behaving badly toward other kids who they think are different, but I suppose that's a fact of life. Mehda will no doubt deal with, in her own time, it the way kids learn to deal with such things. I never understood making fun of any food, though. Even as a very young kid I was fascinated by what I considered unusual foods that classmates brought to school; I remember trading half of my rather bland fare, on occasion, for something more "exotic." <BR/><BR/>I loved this line from your post: "No turmeric powder was harmed in the making of these potatoes."<BR/><BR/>The recipe sounds wonderful; I'll have to try it.JShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05140603821624171649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-20509165928355821932008-03-29T22:43:00.000-06:002008-03-29T22:43:00.000-06:00It's so nice to see you back!! i missed you :) i...It's so nice to see you back!! i missed you :) <BR/><BR/>i went thru the same thing, lol. my mom would try to encourage me to take theplas which i loved, but would not take to school for the life of me.Alpahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16889288288469735138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-8243098075516976622008-03-29T20:23:00.000-06:002008-03-29T20:23:00.000-06:00i grew up in australia in the 1970s, in a fairly h...i grew up in australia in the 1970s, in a fairly homogenous (read: boring) society. one day my forward thinking mother sent me to school with left over tandoori chicken (we are from yorkshire, not india!). i got made horrible fun of, because of the colour of the meat. i would have thought by now children would be better educated on cultures other than their own, and this would have been a thing of the past *sigh*Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08207080621103589053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-89118830236689779512008-03-29T20:21:00.000-06:002008-03-29T20:21:00.000-06:00this is true everytwhere. in india, growing up in ...this is true everytwhere. in india, growing up in bombay, i was harassed mercilessly from bringing bread and butter in my lunchbox.i have no idea why.<BR/><BR/>i would think at least in the u.s., half an hour from denver, the schools would be more proactive in dealing with this. i hope in higher grades, it's much better for medha. it's sad that she can take her favourite foods to school.beehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18128812845273224940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-60188461014444257312008-03-29T20:00:00.000-06:002008-03-29T20:00:00.000-06:00smn, the best thing to do is to find a positive wa...<B>smn</B><I>, the best thing to do is to find a positive way of dealing with it.</I><BR/><BR/><B>Padmaja</B><I>, unfortunately yes. Although the school district has a hug epush on healthy hot lunch and has recently included a 'Harvest Salad Bar' as part of the main menu.</I><BR/><BR/><B>Nags</B><I>, or is it?</I><BR/><BR/><B>ISG</B><I>, that's one way of dealing with it. However that is not the route I want Medha to take. For one, she doesn't feel that way about anyone else's food. Secondly, she may not like certain foods and she can certainly make the choice not to eat them, but she has been brought up to respect the fact that the person eating it may actually enjoy it. <BR/><BR/>Also, I feel that widens the gap and does not promote respect or tolerance of different cultures. Perhaps I have my head in the clouds...</I><BR/><BR/><B>Lvi</B><I>, we've been there so I hear you. I could be wrong but I feel much of this is cultural. Food is in abundance and wastage is not taboo. Medha got into trouble in 1st grade for wanting to bring her half eaten bar back home. She was horrified when she was made to throw it away before leaving the cafeteria. The elementary school she is in now is making an attempt to have children recognize the value of food. They can take from the salad bar only as much as they will eat. They are not allowed to waste. Most people have not experienced what those who lived through the Depression Era did. Food is taken for granted and like all things that are, it bears the brunt of disrespect.</I><BR/><BR/><B>Stella</B><I>, I know many children who live on boiled pasta with butter, boiled or roast chicken and pizza. Pizza is the food of choice at most birthday parties so it is a food the children see right from childhood. <BR/><BR/>Incidentally, Medha loves tuna salad and that sandwich got the same response. Tuna does have a distinct smell. She now eats tuna only at home. <BR/><BR/>So I wonder if it is parochialism? Is it another opportunity to bully or to be mean? Is it lack of proper etiquette? I wish I knew. The problem is that whatever it is, it continues to exist. </I><BR/><BR/><B>Cynthia</B><I>, I think things will improve once she learns not to be hurt by the comments made by those around her. </I><BR/><BR/><B>It's 8 pm and I am rushing to post this comment as we are going to turn off all the lights in our home in a symbolic salute to Earth Hour. I hope you were able to participate, too!</B>Indian Food Rockshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13397829480472038159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-59118413297108660812008-03-29T19:41:00.000-06:002008-03-29T19:41:00.000-06:00Yep, lunch time can be a killer time when at schoo...Yep, lunch time can be a killer time when at school. Honestly, I am happy for all those people who had a great time at school but for some of us it was like hell, not the learning part but the whole socialising bit.<BR/><BR/>I am glad that there is at least one thing that you can make that she's comfortable and confident with taking to school and opening up for all the peering eyes to see.Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01565340772467109199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-74879221410252707672008-03-29T17:05:00.000-06:002008-03-29T17:05:00.000-06:00Wow - I thought this kind of close-minded parochia...Wow - I thought this kind of close-minded parochialism was confined to Australia in the 1960s. It's also astonishing to me that lvi's son is OK with pizza and pasta, but not with Indian food. Lots of Italian kids who migrated to Australia in the 50s and 60s talk about having to conceal things like salami and garlic so the other children wouldn't tease them.Stella Devinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02766191865624508113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-54570413665661866942008-03-29T13:36:00.000-06:002008-03-29T13:36:00.000-06:00Believe it or not, my not-quite-6 year old Kinderg...Believe it or not, my not-quite-6 year old Kindergartner faces it, and understands it. He loves to eat Indian food at home, but for school lunches, it has to be PBJ, mac-n-cheese, pasta or pizza (the pizza also strangely evokes the "that stinks" label, even when it is made at home with all non-"Indian" ingredients)...<BR/>I hope this will get better as he grows older, and knows how to defend himself. For now, I don't force him to take Indian food, as I don't want him to feel alienated in his first year at public school. As it is, he sometimes feels left out by kids' comments on his brown skin (being the only brown kid in his class)... We do talk to him about this off an on, and want him to be aware of it, without it affecting him... Thankfully, he is an objective kid...<BR/>Sorry about the long comment, but I have felt a lot along these lines...Will probably write a post on it soon...LVIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02223893884911685554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-27916457978995163262008-03-29T08:24:00.000-06:002008-03-29T08:24:00.000-06:00Ignorance in kids or adults is hard to deal with. ...Ignorance in kids or adults is hard to deal with. I am sure Medha will find her voice pretty soon. I have seen snide food comments passed in my office kitchen which is almost a virtual UN so you can imagine at school.<BR/><BR/>A kid in DD's class asked if a Date was a giant raisin?!<BR/>According to her girls more than boys do the Yeow. It stopped when she stood up to one of them and said "your food feels Yeow to me! you wouldn't like me saying that to you do you?"indosungodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11556193051268397994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-48066242884797048882008-03-29T06:33:00.000-06:002008-03-29T06:33:00.000-06:00haha.. that was funny!haha.. that was funny!amnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00065092085963619873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-55100175718679311522008-03-29T02:07:00.000-06:002008-03-29T02:07:00.000-06:00Oh yes!! I think every kid faces this dilemma ever...Oh yes!! I think every kid faces this dilemma every now and then. <BR/>Its hard to make them understand how healthy lunch boxes can be.<BR/>Til Aloo looks so delicious!!Padmajahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16784049976224951724noreply@blogger.com