DD's friend said her food stinks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All this discussion about race. It's the broccoli, people.

Too bad the elem. kid who commented on the lunch will not be pointing to the broccoli but to the unknown ethnic food.

And you know this how? It's clear you're trying to run with a particular narrative here and ignore the obvious.

Stinky curry

It's not stinky curry. It's flavored rice. Seems like curry is the only word you know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD says she has been hiding/covering and eating her food at lunch since her friend said its gross. Today she said another one of her friend's came close to the container, said it smells bad and put fingers on her nose. She said the girl was at first looking oddly at her food so DD asked her whether she should sit further away since she felt uncomfortable, but the friend said no its okay and then did this. DD said she cried and went to the bathroom. Her other friends who were not aware of what was going on, saw her crying and cheered her up. We are Indian and our food does smell different and I try to send food that doesn't smell too much. The food that she took today was steamed broccoli and something called Puliogare (dry tamarind rice). I don't think it smells that bad tbh but maybe I am wrong? How do we help her navigate this? We don't want her feeling bad for eating food that she likes.

You should email teacher ask for help. Ignore that “friend” because it sounds like a perfect example of a bully. Ask what your daughter wants to bring, if she chooses to bring Indian food teach her to stand for herself and eating comfortably, she shouldn’t try to sit further to eat. Try to avoid bring something that may have stronger smell, but kids do need to learn to respect others differences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All this discussion about race. It's the broccoli, people.

Too bad the elem. kid who commented on the lunch will not be pointing to the broccoli but to the unknown ethnic food.

And you know this how? It's clear you're trying to run with a particular narrative here and ignore the obvious.

Stinky curry

It's not stinky curry. It's flavored rice. Seems like curry is the only word you know.

PP seems to think it's 1982 in the lunch room all over again and doesn't realized lunch offerings have evolved. You never see bologna and cheese anymore, for example, a former staple lunch. Lunches have more variety and are more colorful than they used to be.

[Anonymous]

A lot of cultural foods from other heritages will have a strong smell to people who aren’t used to those smells of spices. It doesn’t have anything to do with Indian food specifically or being Indian. When I worked in an open office setting I remember some of my Korean coworkers used to microwave their dishes for lunch, and I’m sorry, but it had a smell that was very distinct and permeated the office. Not saying it was a bad smell but it was definitely noticeable. I also remember going g to friends houses in high school who were Filipina, and yes their homes smelled totally different, like the food they cooked. Of course I was old enough to know to not say anything to be insulting. But if your daughter goes to a predominantly white school, they may just be much more sensitive to the distinct smell of Indian food. To you it might not have a strong smel but it probably does to nonIndian people. If the kids are old enough to know better to not be rude then I say your DD should find better friends. But if these are like 5-6 year olds, they are probably just being honest and kids that age don’t have filters yet.

In the office environment, HR actually did have to send emails to ask people not to heat up food that could stink up the office, whether it was Cultural food or things like salmon or popcorn, Bc it can be offensive to other people whether it is to you or not. School environment is somewhat similar. I’d recommend sending foods less likely to smell tbh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All this discussion about race. It's the broccoli, people.

Too bad the elem. kid who commented on the lunch will not be pointing to the broccoli but to the unknown ethnic food.

LOL, says who? Oh, right, the people looking for racism everywhere. Tamarind rice looks like rice, anyway.

[Anonymous]

OP, it’s the broccoli, not your amazing sounding rice that had an unpleasant smell. Steamed broccoli (a staple in my house too) does smell a bit reheated/when you open up a container.

I work in an elementary school and lunch duty is part of my day - kids bring a wide variety of foods from many cultures and cuisines and I love to see it. Send in what your kid likes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All this discussion about race. It's the broccoli, people.

Too bad the elem. kid who commented on the lunch will not be pointing to the broccoli but to the unknown ethnic food.

LOL, says who? Oh, right, the people looking for racism everywhere. Tamarind rice looks like rice, anyway.

I don't have to look for racism in my kids' experiences. I've seen the same in my childhood when people didn't bother to hide why they thought what they did. People just came out and said it.

It's only now that people seem to feel the need to cover their tracks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All this discussion about race. It's the broccoli, people.

Too bad the elem. kid who commented on the lunch will not be pointing to the broccoli but to the unknown ethnic food.

LOL, says who? Oh, right, the people looking for racism everywhere. Tamarind rice looks like rice, anyway.

I don't have to look for racism in my kids' experiences. I've seen the same in my childhood when people didn't bother to hide why they thought what they did. People just came out and said it.

It's only now that people seem to feel the need to cover their tracks.

What does this have to do with the school lunch? Broccoli smells because it's a cruciferous vegetable. It contains sulfur. Do you know what that smells like? Kids just say what's on their mind.

[Anonymous]

I can’t think of any Americanized Indians who pack Indian food to school or work. Every Indian home I have ever been to smells like curry.

Over the years, I have heard many people complain about coworkers or people who smell or their food smells. You don’t want to be known as the person who smells or whose food smells. Wouldn’t you want your daughter to be liked and not cry in the bathroom???

Dh’s best friend is Indian. One of mh kid’s best friend is Indian and another child’s best friend is half Indian. They don’t go around school smelling like Indian food.

I have Asian friends (non Indian) who don’t like to cook Asian food at home because they don’t want their house smelling like Asian food. One guy I know won’t eat Asian food for almost a week before an important client meeting or business trip. You don’t want the impression of you to be a foul smell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The fact that so many people from backgrounds that are not multigenerational American have to think about and plan meals around the fragile noses of white people is so sad.

You are welcome not to be around white people.

Impossible. They’re everywhere

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t think of any Americanized Indians who pack Indian food to school or work. Every Indian home I have ever been to smells like curry.

Over the years, I have heard many people complain about coworkers or people who smell or their food smells. You don’t want to be known as the person who smells or whose food smells. Wouldn’t you want your daughter to be liked and not cry in the bathroom???

Dh’s best friend is Indian. One of mh kid’s best friend is Indian and another child’s best friend is half Indian. They don’t go around school smelling like Indian food.

I have Asian friends (non Indian) who don’t like to cook Asian food at home because they don’t want their house smelling like Asian food. One guy I know won’t eat Asian food for almost a week before an important client meeting or business trip. You don’t want the impression of you to be a foul smell.

This all sounds so sad

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t think of any Americanized Indians who pack Indian food to school or work. Every Indian home I have ever been to smells like curry.

Over the years, I have heard many people complain about coworkers or people who smell or their food smells. You don’t want to be known as the person who smells or whose food smells. Wouldn’t you want your daughter to be liked and not cry in the bathroom???

Dh’s best friend is Indian. One of mh kid’s best friend is Indian and another child’s best friend is half Indian. They don’t go around school smelling like Indian food.

I have Asian friends (non Indian) who don’t like to cook Asian food at home because they don’t want their house smelling like Asian food. One guy I know won’t eat Asian food for almost a week before an important client meeting or business trip. You don’t want the impression of you to be a foul smell.

Foul smell? Curry? So ignorant.

[Anonymous]

South Indian American here. Puliyogare is delish. Doesnt have an off smell, but it may contain peanuts which are forbidden.

Growing up in the 80s, my mom never packed our home food for lunch. It was always pbj or cheese sandwich (vegetarian).

My kids eat meat, so they get sandwiches with cold cuts often, but sometimes it’s egg salad!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:South Indian American here. Puliyogare is delish. Doesnt have an off smell, but it may contain peanuts which are forbidden.

Growing up in the 80s, my mom never packed our home food for lunch. It was always pbj or cheese sandwich (vegetarian).

My kids eat meat, so they get sandwiches with cold cuts often, but sometimes it’s egg salad!

+1. Wish other Indians follow this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t think of any Americanized Indians who pack Indian food to school or work. Every Indian home I have ever been to smells like curry.

Over the years, I have heard many people complain about coworkers or people who smell or their food smells. You don’t want to be known as the person who smells or whose food smells. Wouldn’t you want your daughter to be liked and not cry in the bathroom???

Dh’s best friend is Indian. One of mh kid’s best friend is Indian and another child’s best friend is half Indian. They don’t go around school smelling like Indian food.

I have Asian friends (non Indian) who don’t like to cook Asian food at home because they don’t want their house smelling like Asian food. One guy I know won’t eat Asian food for almost a week before an important client meeting or business trip. You don’t want the impression of you to be a foul smell.

Foul smell? Curry? So ignorant.

I am the pp. we are East Asian and I love curry. I like Indian curry, Japanese curry, Korean curry, etc. I would not want to walk around smelling like curry.