In my previous article I wrote about how tough it might be for your Russian wife to get used to American food and gave you a few tips on how to help her out. Today I am going to help you get acquainted with the Russian food.
Marriage with a Russian woman may be a blessing if you like homemade food and don’t have high cholesterol or blood pressure. Most Russian women know how to cook and this ability comes to them naturally. Eventually she will learn how to make different dishes and will be making the best meatloaf in your neighborhood, but during the first year of marriage with a Russian woman you will most likely be eating Russian traditional dishes made by her.
The Russian kitchen is not the healthiest one, due to Russians’ deep love for mayonnaise and potatoes. Russians eat lots of fattening foods that’s why I warned you about your cholesterol and blood pressure. They also love to eat lots of bread and butter and many Ukrainians like to eat “salo” which is pretty much pork fat.
Nevertheless most Russians are slender, which could be due to a few reasons.
First of all, because Russian cuisine is pretty fattening, you cannot eat too much of it. Russians eat with smaller portions. I was actually shocked when I saw how huge American portions were. When we went out to Pickles restaurant for the first time, I actually had to take a picture and send to my friends and family to show them how much food you get in one sitting. Otherwise, they wouldn’t believe me. Secondly, Russians are not fond of junk food as much as Americans are. Thirdly, Russian lifestyle is different- people move a lot, walk a lot and don’t rely on their cars all the time. Fourthly, the main meal in Russia (dinner) is no later than 2-3 pm, so they have a few more hours than Americans to burn the calories even if they pig out.
The last meal of the day is supper, which is much lighter than dinner.
Your work schedule may not allow having dinner earlier than 5, so your Russian wife will have to adjust to that. If you work from home, marriage to a Russian woman may benefit your health if you adjust to her food culture and eat dinner earlier.
Russian dishes contain many vegetables. Nothing exotic, but tomatoes, bell peppers, potatoes, cucumbers, carrots, onions and garlic are used a lot.
Russian dinner consists of first and second courses. The first course is always a soup and the second one is meat or fish with a side.
For breakfast many Russians eat porridge, cereal, eggs, pancakes, sandwiches or simply leftovers from last night’s dinner. I wasn’t familiar with the term “breakfast food” until I came to this country.
Salads for Russians are not the same as salads for Americans. Salad is not a “rabbit food” ; it usually means some sort of meat, fish or mushrooms and, of course, mayonnaise. Russian salads are like meals, so don’t ask your Russian wife to make a salad before dinner. If she makes you a Russian salad, you may not be able to squeeze the dinner in.
Russians drink lots of tea, probably just as much as the British. Tea (not vodka) is the most popular drink in Russia and most countries of the Soviet Union. Some Russians drink soda, but most of them realize that it is unhealthy, so they try to stay away.
A few foods which are very popular in Russia, but which many Americans can’t stand are: cod liver (it is a delicacy for Russians), “salo”, which I mentioned before, herring and red and black caviar.
Don’t be afraid to tell your Russian woman that you don’t like something from the Russian cuisine or that you would like to cut down on mayonnaise a bit. If she is smart, she will not be offended. Besides, I am positive, she complained or will about American food quite a bit.
