Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Dr. Dina Qahwaji

Overview

Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two holiest cities in Makka and Medina.

Saudi Arabia occupies four-fifths of the Arabian Peninsula.

Dr. Dina Qahwaji

Geographic location

It is bordered to the northwest by Jordan, to the north by Iraq and Kuwait, to the west by the Red sea and to the east Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, and to the south by Yemen.

Dr. Dina Qahwaji

Overview of environment

Saudi Arabia’s agricultural development over the last three decades has been amazing. 

Large areas of desert have been turned into agricultural fields – a major achievement in a country that receives an average of about four inches of rain a year, one of the lowest rates in the world.

Dr. Dina Qahwaji

Today, Saudi Arabia exports wheat, dates, dairy products, eggs, fish, poultry, fruits, vegetables and flowers to markets around the world. 

Dates, once a staple of the Saudi diet, are now mainly grown for global humanitarian aid.

Dr. Dina Qahwaji

Population

It has an estimated population of 27.6 million, including about 5.5 million resident foreigners.

0-14 years: 38% (male 5,458,023/female

5,245,911) 15-64 years: 59.5% (male 9,470,353/female

7,284,696) 65 years and over: 2.4% (male 356,910/female

330,764) (2008 est.)

Dr. Dina Qahwaji

Majority of SaudisTraveling - Bedouin (Arab).Most of Saudi are Arabian and some of them

colony came from Asia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesians.

Minorities in SaudisPilgrimage.Around 100,000 westerns who generally live in

private companies campus.Labors (mostly from Asia and Africa).

Dr. Dina Qahwaji

Main factors influence food habits

Inherited cultural values from the nomadic Bedouin who prized honor, valor, loyalty, and hospitality.

The old Arabian control of the spice routes.

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The food restrictions given from Islam.

Availability of ingredients (reflection of regional environments) that limit and lead to specific choices.

Today the main affected factor is modernization and all its related dynamics.

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Other possible factors

Personal experience with other culture (traveling or originality)

Accept and may consume different cultural food

Personal education also ease the person on accepting different flavors.

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Therapeutic use why we belief in these certain way

The majority of Saudi are social type, living in groups.

Always trust and follow a leader (grandparents, sheik, leader).

Saudi in general trust science and fate in the same time and when one part weight more, the total habit is affected.

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Common disease and nutrition problem Why these are more common?

Overweight and Obesity

Diabetes Cardiovascular

disease Cancers

Low level of physical activity

High consumption of fat and calories

Genetics Pollutions – infected

environment

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Food items and dishes why we eat these specific food??

Saudi cuisine is rich in taste and appearance, Saudi Arabia is a country of many cultures.

Dr. Dina Qahwaji

Common Foods (from other countries)

Dr. Dina Qahwaji

“Bukhary” rice, and “Manto” from Turkistan.

“Kabli” rice from Kabul.

“Biryani” and “Sambousa” from India and Pakistan.

“Tabouleh”, “Fatoush” and “Kibbih” from Lebanon and Syria.

“Mulokhiya”, “Mah’shi” and “Kufta” from Egypt.

“Shawerma” and “Shishberek” from Turkey.

“Mutabbag” and “Lahouh” from Yemen.

Thousands of interaction years with many culture have influence Saudi cuisine. It create wonderful marriage of flavor suggestive of many nations but with individual Saudi taste.

The effect of pilgrims. The history of Islam that start in Arabian holy

land and form special relation with other countries.

Location of Saudi between different countries.

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Meal Pattern In traditional Saudi setting, several plates are

placed on “sufra”, a circular mat used as a tablecloth or a rectangular plastic cover placed on the floor.

Limit use of tools Why?

Originality habitLarge number of family members (men and women

separated)Eating are strongly social activities.

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Getting modernized

International restaurants.Accept other culture taste

Limit the cultural food and limit home prepared meals.Long work hours↑ Women work

Late lunch – longer work hours.

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Differences in each region within Saudi Arabia

Dr. Dina Qahwaji

The southern region special tools are used (stoneware) to get slow and even cooking, also good for keeping food hot on long trips. “Shafot” is a popular dish made with “lahuh” and laban zabadi.

The eastern region well-known for it’s very special seafood dishes and their own spices. The Alahasaa area have their own recipes, “Mashkhul” is a popular Arabian Gulf rice dish made with meat, chicken, or fish.

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Riyad area boast “margoug” (pastry in vegetable and meat sauce), “mathloutha” and “mufattah” (whole lamb, roasted).

The Western region of course is well-known for the biggest variety of dishes in all Saudi Arabia countries plus its unique flavor and taste that people generate throughout the years. Some of the Hijazi dishes are “Aish Abo-laham”, Maa’sub” and Saleag”.

A dining experience begin with traditional coffee or/and fruit juice.

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Foremost of the requirements of hospitality in Arabia is the preparation and serving of “Qahwah Arabiyah”, Arab coffee, unsweetened but flavored with cardamom.

Fresh juice such as mango, or orangeMix of apple juice and sparkling water garnish with

fresh mint and fruit pieces known as Saudi Champagne is popular drink.

Rice is a dietary stable. A famous Kabsa rice with lamb whole or large chunk.

Rice is served plain, with vegetables, spice and even with rose water.

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Lamb, goat, and camel are traditionally cooked either on rice or stuffed with wheat, rice, herbs, nuts, and/or spices.

“Kibba”, “sambousak”, and “stuffed grape” leaves can be side dishes.

In coastal area fresh seafood is a favorite. Fried whole fish, “sayadia” (rice cooked with fried rice and spices) served with “tahina” (sesames seeds paste).

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“Jarish” is a popular dish and it is nourishing blend of cracked whole wheat.

No matter whether a meal is meat, fish, or vegetables, bread, is always an addition.

Meal traditionally end with a serving with fresh fruit. Delicious “kenafa”, “beklawa”, “gatayif” are common pastry base flavored with sugar, honey and nuts.

Dr. Dina Qahwaji

Nutrition intake Saudi’s diet rich of grains which is a good

source of energy. With its essential coating of bran, fibers, vitamins and minerals, it is excellent health – building food.

High consumption of meat (red meat) and rice.

Consumption of fruit and vegetable are vary depends on several factors.

Dr. Dina Qahwaji

What do you think the future habits of Saudi???

Dr. Dina Qahwaji