Food is closely related to culture. Food staples are a dominant part of a population's diet and are eaten regularly. They are usually packed with calories to provide energy and are often inexpensive and plant based. According to National Geographic, out of all the plants in the world, “15 of them make up 90% of the world’s food energy intake.” Two-thirds of this consists of wheat, rice, and corn.

Although we are going to focus on how food reflects culture, regional food is determined by several factors such as natural resources, climate, religious beliefs, infrastructure, and economics.

Look at the pictures to left. Can you guess which staple food is in each?