Nepalese food

Food is a big part of the cultural landscape of Kathmandu. The Newars, one of the original ethnic groups in Kathmandu, are especially known to celebrate countless festivals year round, almost all of which involve feasting on gourmet food. A typical Newar feast includes some 16-course vegetable and meat dishes marinated in tantalizing spices, along with rich yogurt, fruits, and sweets. On average, people eat four full meals (breakfast, lunch, supper and dinner) in a day along with multiple snacks throughout. When you visit someone’s house, it’s a tradition that they offer you tea and some snacks. People enjoy having relatives over at their house and preparing food for them. Being home after a long absence, I would make rounds to my endless list of relatives, and on every visit I would be offered, and sometimes even forced to, have something. A typical lunch or dinner consists of rice, lentil soup, a selection of vegetables and meat (no beef), homemade sauces, and salad. Food is usually less heavy, though spicy, and flavorful. The most popular snack food includes MoMo (Nepalese dumplings), Tibetan noodles, pizza, and burgers. It’s remarkable that obesity is not a major health problem in Kathmandu!