ng that contains pork products. The uncleanliness of the animal is not the only factor that dictates what to eat. Health is also an important factor in food choice. Bean pies are a popular dish because of the healthiness of them. Rare meat is not a favorite among his family. No blood can drip from meat, according to Khalid. This leads into the fact of halal and haram foods. All foods that are eaten by Muslims must be halal. Halal means that in the case of meat it was slaughtered in the proper manner. In the Islamic religion, there are holidays in which Khalid celebrates. During Hajj and Ramadan they are supposed to sacrifice a lamb. Instead, his family just prepares lamb for dinner. In the case of Ramadan, this is done at the end of the holiday. Ramadan is a month in which Muslims are supposed to fast. Fasting lasts for 28 to 30 days and begins at sunup to sundown. During these daylight hours there is no food or drink permitted as well as no sexual relations. Although Khalid engages in all of these religious traditions, he and his family still celebrate the American holiday Thanksgiving. On regular days, he does eat a lot of soul food which includes the collard greens and candied yams. Throughout all four interviewees I realized many foods that are common in the African American culture. In my home, although I choose not to eat pork, we do eat collard greens and sweet potatoes. Coming from a multicultural background that includes African American, Bajan, and Japanese, I also enjoy many other dishes ranging from Asia to the Caribbean. I also have family from the north as well as the south so I understood all the aspects my interviewees were throwing at me.Although each subject is from completely different backgrounds, whether they be geographical or religious, they each share likeness in many different aspects of their lives. Showing the similarities as well as the differences in their eating habits can create a cul...
