SARAJEVO, BOSINA AND HERZEGOVINA — THE DUDO FAMILYEnsada, 32, Ibrahim, 8, Emina, 3, Amila, 6, and Rasim, 36. Despite Ensada’s busy schedule, she does not rely on prepackaged foods. A typical dinner for the Dudos might consist of chicken stew served with ajvar (a preserved eggplant-and-red pepper spread) on slices of crusty bread. The children love to finish the meal with one of Ensada’s homemade desserts, although they are just as happy with a store bought Kinder Surprise Egg.
EXPENDITURE: $90
CAIRO, EGYPT — THE AHMED FAMILYMamdouh, 35 (wearing glasses), and Nadia, 36 (with dark-brown head scarf), their three children (far left), six members of Nadia’s extended family, and a family friend. The Ahmed home is often crowded for meals because many members of the extended family live either in or near the Ahmeds’ apartment building. Generally the women in the families cook together. A favourite Ahmed family recipe is Nadia’s tajine, a slow-cooked stew with okra and mutton.
EXPENDITURE: $78
RIVERVIEW, AUSTRALIA — THE BROWN FAMILYDoug, 54, Marge, 52, daughter Vanessa, 32, and grandchildren Rhy, 12, Kayla, 15, John, 13, and Sinead, 5. Doug and Marge grew up in the outback, and although they are purposefully unmodern in many respects, this does not extend to Marge’s love of the family’s new refrigerator, nor to Sinead’s preference for “Mackas” (McDonald’s). Morning meals centre around Doug’s fruit salad covered with cream and sugar.
EXPENDITURE: $428
BARGTHEIDE, GERMANY — THE MELANDER FAMILYKjell, 10, Susanne, 43, Jörg, 45, and Finn, 14. Susanne tries to ensure that the Melanders eat nutritious foods and take supplements, though Jörg notes that his favourite dish is fried potatoes with onions, bacon, and herring. Susanne would like to buy only organic food, but it’s simply too expensive.
EXPENDITURE: $568
KOUAKOUROU, MALI — THE NATOMO FAMILYSoumana, 46 (in blue), with his two wives, Pama, 35 (immediate left), and Fatoumata, 33 (immediate right), their children, and members of the extended family. Asked about their favourite foods, the family says that they don’t think in terms of favourites. All of their meals centre on a millet porridge called tô, which is eaten with various soups and sauces.
EXPENDITURE: $30
GATINEAU, CANADA — THE FINKEN FAMILYKirk, 43, Danielle, 50, Anna, 11, and Coco Simone, 16. The Finkens try to eat locally produced organic fruit and vegetables and also grow vegetables in their front yard. The children are particularly fond of Indian food-Anna lists her favourite food as matar paneer, and Coco, who recently became a vegetarian, likes spiced lentils and chapatis.
EXPENDITURE: $158
