Food is a big part of every person’s life as it must be eaten multiple times a day to live a healthy lifestyle and nourish the body. For this reason, you must find the right types of food for you so that you can enjoy every meal that you have. If you are trying to branch out with your meal planning or restaurant choices, you must first think about the things that you like and dislike as well as consider restrictions, experiment with different flavors, and try cuisines of all different cultures. Use this article as a guide to get you to try new types of food that will enrich your life and complement your tastes.
Define Your Flavor Preferences
Everyone has a preference for the flavors they enjoy the most. Some people can sit and eat an entire bar of chocolate, while others prefer food on the saltier side. To define your flavor preferences, consider the four flavor types below.
Spicy and Bold
If you crave heat, intensity, and a good kick when you have a meal, then spicy cuisines like those from Mexico, Thailand, India, and Szechuan China are a great place to start. These legendary cuisines draw from their countries’ natural resources by using strong spices and hot peppers to deliver a delicious power punch to every meal.
Savory and Umami
If you are more on the side of trying foods that are savory and salty while still very flavorful, then foods that are defined by the Japanese word “umami” are right up your alley. Umami can be defined as a pleasant savory taste like what you find in a rich meaty broth. These foods usually have a high level of amino acid glutamate and are found in cuisines from Japan, Korea, and Italy. Think of a nice chunk of parmesan cheese or a perfect piece of sushi dipped in soy sauce.
If this kind of food appeals to you, then you should start seeking out sushi, Korean barbeque, and authentic Italian restaurants. Another savory and fresh type of cuisine to try out if you enjoy the flavors described here is that of Croatia. This lesser-known type of cuisine is a fusion of Mediterranean cuisine with typical Dalmatian flavor, meaning that a lot of fresh seafood is used with subtle but flavorful spices. This kind of food will wake up your taste buds and have you asking for more.
Sweet and Sour Balance
Some cuisines around the world have mastered the art of combining both sweet and sour into meals that warm the heart and satisfy the stomach. In countries like Thailand, coconut milk is often added to a spicy or tangy dish like curry to balance the flavor and create something delicious. Other countries like Vietnam and China use similar flavor combinations. Consider a big bowl of Vietnamese beef pho, the broth itself has been stewed for hours to get the rich flavors out of the meat and then fresh onions, peppers, lime, and even basil are added to give a sour kick to the overall taste. Then, you can add hoisin sauce, a very sweet but somehow also savory sauce that compliments all of the other flavors going on in this iconic bowl of noodle soup.
Herbal and Fresh
Herb-forward food like some cuisines from the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Southeast Asia offer fresh meals that fill you up but do not leave you feeling sluggish. Any meal with fresh vegetables and locally caught meat or fish is going to be satisfying because your body craves unprocessed and homemade food.
Consider Dietary Preferences and Restrictions
If you have any kind of dietary restriction that makes it hard for you to sometimes find cuisines that you like, try taking traditional recipes and adapting them to your needs. You will be surprised to find how simple it is to make delicious food without ingredients like gluten, dairy, or nuts.
Never Stop Exploring
The great thing about living in a world full of different food cultures is that you will never run out of new things to try. As people grow and change, their food preferences may be altered as well. This is why it is important that even if you may not have liked something in the past, you should always try it again every few years because your palette may have changed or matured. It is also essential that when you are introduced to new cuisines, whether that is through traveling or meeting new people, you always say yes if it is within the limit of any dietary restrictions. You never know what new cuisine you will find that will become your new favorite.
By tuning into your flavor preferences, integrating new recipes into your life that adhere to your dietary restrictions, and continuing to explore the cuisines of the world, you will find yourself expanding your pallet and enjoying food more and more each day.
