Alone In Canada - Cooking and "potluck" meals

I am single so I have to cook for myself. I am not used to doing this, so I feel very bitter. It is very hard." - Mansoor, from Iran

Home cooking… .  You may miss the familiar smells and tastes of foods from home. Eating food that is unfamiliar and that you do not enjoy may add to the stress of living in a new culture. Some newcomers already know how to cook. Others may find that coming to Canada means learning how to cook for themselves. One Brazilian newcomer became closer to his mother when he called her every week to ask how to make his dinner!

Canada is a multi-cultural society. In medium and large cities you can find foods from all over the world. In small towns you may have to make a special trip to the nearest city to get what you want, or you may have to order over the Internet or telephone.

If you are not sure how to make something, ask your friends and family to send you some cookbooks or recipes from your homeland. Your local library may also have ethnic cookbooks in English and other languages. The Internet is also a great source of recipes.

Fast foods, like hamburgers and pizzas, and junk foods, like chips or nachos, may be quick and easy, but home-cooked foods are better for your health. Eating healthy food can help you to feel better and make it easier to cope with the mental and physical strain of living in a new culture.  You will also save money by cooking for yourself. Fast foods and junk foods are much more expensive.

Invite friends to your home to share a meal that you have cooked. Or ask them to come to a "potluck" meal.  This is where everyone cooks and brings a dish with them. It is a fun way to get to know the food of other countries. Do not worry if your cooking is not perfect; practice will make it better.

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