דף הבית \(\blacktriangleleft\)  היחידה לילדים ונוער \(\blacktriangleleft\) אתר חיצי”ם \(\blacktriangleleft\) המטבח הסיני \(\blacktriangleleft\) פעילות 2: סמלי הארוחה הסינית

Activity 2: Symbols of the Chinese Meal

The Chinese meal is a social and cultural experience with its own rules.
In this activity (by: Dr. Galit Boutsar), we will compare the Western dining table (hamburger, fork) with the Chinese dining table (bowl, chopsticks), and learn about the differences between individual serving versus shared serving.
In addition, we will focus on chopsticks – the most common utensil in China – and learn step-by-step how to hold and move them correctly so we can eat our meal with dignity!

The Activity

An Israeli Meal and a Chinese Meal – Similarities and Differences?

  • What foods do you like to eat for lunch?
  • What does the dining table look like in your home?
  • What utensils are used for serving and eating, and what do you drink?
סמלי הארוחה הסינית

Meal Content

Look at the pictures and compare the meals in terms of:

  • Portion size
  • Utensils
  • Food types

The two pictures on the left show common dishes in an Israeli home or restaurant: hamburger, schnitzel, pasta. On the other hand, the picture on the right shows a typical Chinese meal.

At home / Israel

אתר חיצים - פסטה ברוטב שמנת פטריות

At home / Israel

Schnitzel with french fries and a spicy dip, fresh from red orange

China

אתר חיצים - מאכל תמונת מבוא2

Tableware

Look at the pictures depicting tableware in the Western kitchen versus tableware in the Chinese kitchen.

  • What is similar?
  • What is different?

The two pictures on the left show common serving utensils in the Western world.
The two pictures on the right show tableware in the Chinese kitchen.

Western kitchen

אתר חיצים - שולחן חג

Plates for appetizer and main course, metal cutlery, glass for cold drink

Western kitchen

אתר חיצים - שולחן חג 1

Plates for appetizer and main course, metal cutlery, glass for cold drink

China

This is a photograph of japanese rice

Bowl for rice with a plate underneath serving as a saucer, and chopsticks.

China

Clay teapot in female hand and other items of Chinese tea ceremony, isolated on white background

Tea cups in China

How to eat with chopsticks?

  • The first stick should be between the thumb and the middle finger. This stick remains fixed in place and does not move, supported by the thumb.
  • The second stick slides between the index finger and the thumb.
    You move this stick by moving your index finger up and down.
    This movement will close and open the chopsticks, allowing you to pick up food.