ShareThe problem in Kuwait is that we don’t exercise enough, either due to work or being occupied with kids and school requirements.
I had an interesting discussion a few days back with a foreign couple who are new in town, and it was about food. Sometimes food can cause culture shock, especially if you crave certain foods and drinks that are not available or forbidden in Kuwait, and are introduced to new kinds of food that are not part of your cuisine back home. They asked me about Kuwaiti food, as they had heard it is delicious.
There are some popular cuisines like Chinese or Indian readily available here, so many expats in Kuwait are not familiar with our food. Most ancient and traditional countries also have their own herbs, spices and dishes.
Pork is preferred by some expats, which is something they like to have at least once a week, but it is banned here as Islam forbids eating the flesh of swine. This may be hard for some, so the next choice is to accept the fact that they will be introduced to new dishes, which they may or may not like. Among these new dishes are local ones like majboos, the king of Kuwaiti cuisine. This traditional Kuwaiti dish consists of meat and basmati rice cooked in a spicy gravy and served with tomato and Tabasco sauce.
For those of you who have not yet been introduced to this magical dish, let me tell you what it is. There are two kinds of majboos: Lamb and chicken - the most popular. Some people try to avoid eating red meat for health reasons, so chicken is their favorite alternative. Besides, mutton is expensive compared to the cheap and stable price of chicken all year long. You can easily fill your belly and go to sleep satiated.
But be careful - don't fall under the spell of food here. You can easily gain weight if you don't watch how much you eat. The problem in Kuwait is that we don't exercise enough, either due to work or being occupied with kids and school requirements. Also, the weather is foul nearly most of the year - too hot or too cold or too dusty. So I really can't blame people when they gain weight and don't do enough exercise.
It might be a struggle for some to find the food they normally eat and drink back home. Some try to recreate their recipes here, but I doubt it will taste the same. So when it comes to getting traditional food, this can be a challenge for expats.
For newcomers to Kuwait who miss their favorite food, my tip is to ask Mr Google about your favorite cuisine in the area where you are staying. Perhaps you can find a restaurant nearby where you can get the food of your country. Or ask your compatriots, and they will give you all the info you need. In Kuwait, you don't have to suffer a lot over food, because there are all kinds of foods available, and the expat community is always ready to give you a tip. When it comes to food, nothing is impossible!
By Muna Al-Fuzai
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