What can I do if my child calls our cultural food “weird”? 

Parenting Perspective 

When a child calls their cultural food “weird,” it is rarely a genuine culinary critique. More often, it is a sign of social pressure, a discomfort with being different, or a simple desire to fit in with their peers. Hearing this can be hurtful, but a parent’s calm and curious response can transform a moment of potential conflict into a powerful opportunity for connection and building cultural pride. 

Respond with Curiosity, Not Criticism 

The most important first step is to manage your own emotional reaction. Avoid scolding, shaming, or taking the comment personally, as this can cause your child to shut down. Instead, approach the situation with gentle curiosity to understand the root of their feeling.You could ask calmly, ‘That is an interesting word to use. What is it that makes it feel weird to you?’ This open-ended question invites an honest conversation. It allows you to discover if they are reacting to comments made by friends at school, if they are struggling with an unfamiliar texture or aroma, or if they are simply feeling embarrassed about being different. Listening without judgment is key to making them feel safe enough to share their true feelings. 

Transform ‘Weird’ into ‘Wonderful’ with Stories 

Children often reject what they do not understand. You can replace this feeling of unfamiliarity with a deep sense of meaning and connection through the power of storytelling. Share the history of the dishes they find strange, linking them to the strength, love, and resilience of their ancestors. 

Tell them stories that bring the food to life: ‘Did you know your great-grandmother used to cook this very dish over a fire with very few ingredients? It gave our family strength during difficult times,’ or ‘Every single spice in this meal was once used as both food and medicine’. When you connect a recipe to a person, a place, or a purpose, it ceases to be an abstract object of potential embarrassment. It becomes a tangible link to their own heroic past. Every spoonful starts to taste like their family’s journey, and the food’s uniqueness becomes a source of wonder, not shame. 

Spiritual Insight 

In Islam, our cultural heritage is a reflection of the beautiful and deliberate diversity of Allah’s creation. Learning to love and respect the food of our ancestors is not just a matter of family pride; it is an act of gratitude for the unique identity that Allah has blessed us with. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Hujurat (49), Verse 13: 

‘O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you…’ 

This powerful verse teaches us that our differences in culture, language, and tradition are not accidental; they are divinely designed. Allah created this diversity so that we might learn from one another and appreciate the vastness of His creative power. Explain to your child that every culture’s unique flavours are a sign of this divine artistry.  

It is recorded in Mishkaat Al Masaabih, Hadith 3025, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:  

‘He who does not thank people, does not thank Allah…’ 

This hadith provides a beautiful framework for understanding the importance of our heritage. Our cultural food is a blessing from Allah that has reached us through a chain of people—our parents, our grandparents, and all the ancestors who came before them. To speak ill of the food is to be ungrateful for the love, effort, and sacrifice of those who preserved these traditions for us. Gently guide your child to this understanding. You can say, ‘When we eat this meal, we should first thank Allah for this blessing, and then we should feel thankful in our hearts for all the people in our family who cooked it with love’. By learning to appreciate the human hands that prepared the food, they learn a deeper form of gratitude to Allah Himself.