Healthy Thai food

Most Thais sustain themselves on a varied and healthy diet filled with many fruits, carbohydrates and vegetables mixed with smaller amounts of animal protein and fat. Culinary satisfaction comes not from eating large amounts of food at any one meal, but rather from nibbling at a variety of dishes with as many different flavours as possible throughout the day. Thai cuisine is famous for the blending of four fundamental tastes:

• sweet (sugar, fruits, sweet peppers)
• spicy (chilies)
• sour (vinegar, lime juice, tamarind)
• salty (fish sauce, soy sauce)

There are no typical times for meals. Nor are certain genres of food restricted to certain times of day. Thais will eat noodles as a substantial snack any time of day or night but rice must be taken every day in order for a Thai person to feel normal. Most Thais prefer white rice; brown rice traditionally thought of as something fed to prisoners and pigs.

Thai food culture

Whether at home or in a restaurant Thai meals are always served family style from common serving platters. Traditionally the party orders one of each kind of dish (perhaps a curry, a stir-fry, a salad, a vegetable dish and a soup) taking care to balance cool and spicy, sour and sweet, salty and plain. Two people generally order two or three dishes, with extras for larger parties. Dining with others is always preferred because it means everyone has a chance to sample several dishes. When forced by circumstance to eat alone a single diner usually sticks to one-plate dishes such as fried rice or noodles.

Thai food etiquette

Originally Thai food was eaten with the fingers (my husband’s grandmother still prefers to use her fingers) but nowadays fork-and-spoon dining is the norm, particularly when eating in public. To most Thais, pushing a fork into ones mouth is as uncouth as putting a knife in the mouth in western countries. Thais use their fork to steer food onto the spoon or to spear sliced fruit. Chopsticks are reserved for eating Chinese noodle dishes. Noodle soups are eaten with a spoon in the left hand (for spooning up broth) and chopsticks in the right.

Thais are not fussy about dishes being served piping hot, in fact it is considered impolite to take a spoonful of steaming hot food, as it implies that you cannot wait to gorge yourself. The exception being noodle dishes which are served straight from the pan. Don’t pick up a serving plate to serve yourself. Proper Thai etiquette means leaving the plate on the tabletop and reaching over to it with your spoon. Most Thais will automatically place food on your plate if they notice you are out of platter range. Don’t be offended, they are just being helpful.

Thais do not chat a great deal during a meal. It is considered quite bad manners actually, particularly within Chinese families (there are a large number of Chinese living in Thailand). If eating at home Thai people will leave the eating area immediately after finishing their meal, taking their empty plate with them.

Medicinal Thai food

Many Thai herbs are added to regional cuisine with the intention of enhancing health as well as taste. For example, black pepper and varieties of basil are common curry ingredients that have antacid and anti-flatulent properties and Thais will eat soups containing bitter melon to help bring down a fever.

Thai food is adventurous

Almost all of Thai food is cooked quickly with fresh ingredients, combining strong tastes to create one of the world’s most exciting cuisines. Be adventurous, share dishes with others, balance spicy dishes with plain and you will soon discover your favourites.