Belarusian(national) Cuisine

Wondering what to expect on your plate in Belarus? Meat and potatoes is a bit of a stereotype in this part of the world, but it's certainly not far from the truth. Similar to the cuisines of neighboring countries Ukraine, Russia, Poland and Lithuania, Belarus puts a lot of emphasis on pork, dumplings, soups, as well as the mighty potato.

Common in Belarusian cuisine were dishes from potato which is called among people "the second bread". For example, pancakes (draniki, in other words).  To my mind this dish is a speciality of our country, it is delicious. If you don’t mind I will give you the recipe. First you should peel some potatoes, then you should grate them, add an egg , some flour, some salt, mix everything and make little pancakes on a frying pan . Serve your draniki hot with sour cream or butter. Bon appetite!

A traditional Belarusian dinner must always start with a soup.  You can taste borscht and khaladnik. Borscht is popular in many Eastern and Central European cuisines. It is made with beetroot and beef as the main ingredients. It usually contains heavy vegetables including potatoes and beets, but may also contain carrots and peppers.  
The Belarusian khaladnik , a cold borscht made of beets, beet leaves and served with sour cream, hard-boiled eggs, and boiled potatoes  will be pleasant on a hot summer day. 

Most of all I prefer pancakes of various thickness, plain and filled, made mostly of wheat or buckwheat flour, but also using oatmeal.

Тraditional liquid desserts that accompanya meal include kompot, normally made of dried or fresh fruit, boiled, and then cooled, and kvass.

As you can see Belarusian cuisine has colorful history and a great variety of dishes for every taste. But the best way to understand it all, is to simply get eating!

Healthy way of life

A wise man said, “Never hurry. Take plenty of exercise. Always be cheerful. Take all the sleep you need. You may expect to be well.” Actually these are the basis of our health. I would add to this list of advice healthy eating habits and avoiding bad habits.

When you speak about healthy way of life it’s very important to stress that you should follow a daily regimen that has  enough  sleeping hours, regular meals, proper time for work and relaxation.

Today you have a great variety of ways to stay healthy and keep fit: doing morning exercises, working out in a gym, swimming, jogging, cycling, walking, yogi, fitness training. Sport also gives energy and makes better disciplined. Today everybody wants to be fit, feel well, look slim and stay young.

The next important thing I’d like to mention is nutrition. Nobody denies that home-made food is really better than junk or fast food. Specialists say that we need more than 40 different nutrients for good health. Our daily food should include bread other whole grain products, fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, dairy products, nuts and vegetable oils.

But all your efforts will be in vain if you have any of bad habits like smoking or even worse if you are addicted to something. It’s known from statistics that smoking kills 5 million people a year. Moreover, this habit may cause heart diseases and spoil your teeth and skin.  Alcohol causes heart diseases and brain damage. A drinker becomes nervous and aggressive, loses friends, work, family.

The last but not the least factor is good mood. Having a good mood and good disposition in life makes us healthier. Being stressed and depressed could lead to  serious illnesses such as mental illnesses and could weaken our immune system in the long run. It is better to think positive and to look on the bright side.

Let's talk about sport

Sport takes an important part in our life as our state of health depends on it. Sport makes people healthy, keeps them fit, more organized and better disciplined. It can be a professional occupation, a road to records, titles, fame or self-expression. Sport is also a nice form of relaxation and entertainment, a way of spending leisure time or building up health. Today everybody wants to be fit, feel well, look slim and stay young.

Many sports are popular in Belarus. They are football, basketball, judo, hockey, shooting, figure skating and  skiing. Besides, a lot of races, competitions are held every year. Everyone who wants can participate in sports activities in our country. Many skating rinks, swimming pools, stadiums are built for people who go in for sports.

A lot of people do sports to keep fit. Fitness helps to reduce body fat, slows down the process of aging, reduces stress, helps to unwind, feel positive and full of energy. It helps you sleep better and feel more confident. It also reduces the risk of heart disease, reduces blood pressure, overall, it improves the quality of your life as a whole. Today you have a great variety of ways to keep fit: doing morning exercises, working out in a gym, swimming , jogging, cycling, walking, yogi, fitness training.

As for me, I am not a sporty person . I don’t take much interest  in sports. Nevertheless, I regularly do some exercises to be more active and healthy. Throughout my life I try to lead a healthy way of life. I also walk a lot. I think walking is the best sport. You don’t have to buy any special equipment, you can do it without special training. I am not a sports fan and  I don’t watch any competitions on TV because I find it boring.

But it goes without saying, that sport plays a very important role in people’s life, not only in the lives of professional sportsmen.