u/tbarca1

I’m researching Syrian food culture for CELKARI, a food project exploring cuisines and food traditions from around the world.
I’m particularly interested in understanding the regional diversity of Syrian food and what people who grew up with these traditions think is important for an outsider to understand.
I’d really appreciate your thoughts on:
**Everyday Syrian Food**
What did everyday home cooking look like in your family?
**Regional Syrian Cuisines**
How do food traditions differ between places such as Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Hama, the Syrian coast and eastern Syria?
**Family & Generational Foodways**
What dishes, techniques or food traditions were passed down through your family?
**Ingredients, Spices & Techniques**
Which ingredients, spices or cooking techniques do you think are particularly important to Syrian cuisine?
**Seasonal & Celebratory Foods**
What foods are associated with seasons, celebrations, weddings, religious occasions or family gatherings?
**Overlooked Syrian Dishes**
What Syrian dishes or food traditions do you think deserve more recognition outside Syria?
**Misunderstandings & Misrepresentation**
What do you think people outside Syria most commonly misunderstand about Syrian food?
**Syrian Food in the Diaspora**
How have Syrian communities outside Syria preserved or adapted their food traditions?
I’m not looking for a single definition of “authentic” Syrian cuisine. I want to understand the regional diversity and lived experiences behind Syrian food culture.
Personal experiences, family stories, regional knowledge, recipes or sources you think I should investigate would be incredibly valuable.

**Arabic**
I’m currently researching Syrian food culture for CELKARI, a project that focuses on studying cuisines and food traditions from different parts of the world.
I’m particularly keen on understanding the significant regional diversity in Syrian food, and learning what people raised in these traditions consider important for others to grasp.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on:
**Everyday Syrian Food**
What was the food your family ate like in everyday life?
**Regional Cuisines and Food Traditions**
How do food traditions vary among areas such as Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Hama, the Syrian coast, and eastern Syria?
**Family Traditions and Passing Down Across Generations**
What dishes, cooking methods, or food traditions have been passed down through your families?
**Ingredients, Spices, and Cooking Methods**
What ingredients or spices or cooking techniques do you find particularly vital in Syrian cuisine?
**Seasonal and Celebratory Foods**
What foods are linked to specific seasons, celebrations, weddings, religious events, or family gatherings?
**Overlooked Syrian Dishes**
What Syrian dishes or food traditions do you believe deserve more attention outside of Syria?
**Misunderstandings and Misrepresentation**
What do you think are the most common misunderstandings about Syrian food from people outside Syria?
**Syrian Food in Exile**
How have Syrian communities abroad maintained or adapted their food traditions?
I’m not looking for a single definition of what’s called “authentic” Syrian cuisine. I want to grasp the regional diversity and lived experiences that shape Syrian food culture.
Personal experiences, family stories, regional knowledge, recipes, or sources you deem worthy of investigation would be extremely helpful.

I’m researching Syrian food culture for CELKARI, a food project exploring cuisines and food traditions from around the world.
I’m particularly interested in understanding the regional diversity of Syrian food and what people who grew up with these traditions think is important for an outsider to understand.
I’d really appreciate your thoughts on:
**Everyday Syrian Food**
What did everyday home cooking look like in your family?
**Regional Syrian Cuisines**
How do food traditions differ between places such as Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Hama, the Syrian coast and eastern Syria?
**Family & Generational Foodways**
What dishes, techniques or food traditions were passed down through your family?
**Ingredients, Spices & Techniques**
Which ingredients, spices or cooking techniques do you think are particularly important to Syrian cuisine?
**Seasonal & Celebratory Foods**
What foods are associated with seasons, celebrations, weddings, religious occasions or family gatherings?
**Overlooked Syrian Dishes**
What Syrian dishes or food traditions do you think deserve more recognition outside Syria?
**Misunderstandings & Misrepresentation**
What do you think people outside Syria most commonly misunderstand about Syrian food?
**Syrian Food in the Diaspora**
How have Syrian communities outside Syria preserved or adapted their food traditions?
I’m not looking for a single definition of “authentic” Syrian cuisine. I want to understand the regional diversity and lived experiences behind Syrian food culture.
Personal experiences, family stories, regional knowledge, recipes or sources you think I should investigate would be incredibly valuable.

**Arabic**
I’m currently researching Syrian food culture for CELKARI, a project that focuses on studying cuisines and food traditions from different parts of the world.
I’m particularly keen on understanding the significant regional diversity in Syrian food, and learning what people raised in these traditions consider important for others to grasp.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on:
**Everyday Syrian Food**
What was the food your family ate like in everyday life?
**Regional Cuisines and Food Traditions**
How do food traditions vary among areas such as Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Hama, the Syrian coast, and eastern Syria?
**Family Traditions and Passing Down Across Generations**
What dishes, cooking methods, or food traditions have been passed down through your families?
**Ingredients, Spices, and Cooking Methods**
What ingredients or spices or cooking techniques do you find particularly vital in Syrian cuisine?
**Seasonal and Celebratory Foods**
What foods are linked to specific seasons, celebrations, weddings, religious events, or family gatherings?
**Overlooked Syrian Dishes**
What Syrian dishes or food traditions do you believe deserve more attention outside of Syria?
**Misunderstandings and Misrepresentation**
What do you think are the most common misunderstandings about Syrian food from people outside Syria?
**Syrian Food in Exile**
How have Syrian communities abroad maintained or adapted their food traditions?
I’m not looking for a single definition of what’s called “authentic” Syrian cuisine. I want to grasp the regional diversity and lived experiences that shape Syrian food culture.
Personal experiences, family stories, regional knowledge, recipes, or sources you deem worthy of investigation would be extremely helpful.

I’m researching Palestinian food culture for CELKARI, a food project exploring cuisines and food traditions from around the world.
I’m particularly interested in understanding Palestinian food through lived experience rather than relying only on restaurant menus or English-language cookbooks.
I’d really appreciate your thoughts on:
Everyday Palestinian Food
What did everyday home cooking look like in your family?
Regional Palestinian Foodways
How do food traditions differ between different Palestinian regions?
Family & Generational Traditions
What dishes, recipes, techniques or food traditions were passed down through your family?
Agriculture, Ingredients & Seasonality
Which locally grown ingredients and seasonal foods are particularly important to Palestinian cooking?
Celebrations & Hospitality
What foods are associated with family gatherings, hospitality, celebrations or particular occasions?
Overlooked Palestinian Dishes
What Palestinian foods do you think deserve to be better known outside Palestine?
Misunderstandings & Misrepresentation
What do you think outsiders most often misunderstand about Palestinian food?
Palestinian Food in the Diaspora
How have Palestinian food traditions been preserved or adapted by Palestinian communities outside Palestine?
I’m not looking for a single definition of “authentic” Palestinian cuisine. I want to understand the regional diversity, family traditions and lived experiences that make Palestinian food culture what it is.
Personal experiences, family traditions, regional knowledge, recipes or sources you think I should investigate would be incredibly valuable.

العربية
أجري حاليًا بحثًا حول ثقافة الطعام الفلسطيني لمشروع CELKARI، وهو مشروع يهتم بدراسة المطابخ والتقاليد الغذائية من مختلف أنحاء العالم.
أهتم بشكل خاص بفهم الطعام الفلسطيني من خلال التجارب المعيشية للأشخاص، وليس فقط من خلال قوائم المطاعم أو كتب الطبخ المتوفرة باللغة الإنجليزية.
يسعدني جدًا أن أسمع آراءكم حول:
الطعام** الفلسطيني اليومي
كيف كان شكل الطعام الذي تتناوله عائلتكم في الحياة اليومية؟
التقاليد الغذائية بحسب المناطق
كيف تختلف التقاليد الغذائية بين المناطق الفلسطينية المختلفة؟
التقاليد العائلية وانتقالها بين الأجيال
ما الأطباق أو الوصفات أو طرق الطبخ أو العادات الغذائية التي انتقلت إليكم عبر عائلاتكم؟
الزراعة والمكونات والمواسم
ما المكونات المحلية والأطعمة الموسمية التي تعتبرونها مهمة بشكل خاص في المطبخ الفلسطيني؟
الضيافة والمناسبات
ما الأطعمة المرتبطة بالتجمعات العائلية أو الضيافة أو الاحتفالات أو المناسبات الخاصة؟
أطباق فلسطينية لا تحظى بالاهتمام الكافي
ما الأطعمة الفلسطينية التي تعتقدون أنها تستحق أن تكون معروفة أكثر خارج فلسطين؟
المفاهيم الخاطئة والتقديم غير الدقيق
ما أكثر الأمور التي تعتقدون أن الناس خارج فلسطين يسيئون فهمها بشأن الطعام الفلسطيني؟
الطعام الفلسطيني في بلاد **الاغتراب
كيف حافظت المجتمعات الفلسطينية خارج فلسطين على تقاليد الطعام، أو كيف تكيفت هذه التقاليد مع بيئات جديدة؟
لا أبحث عن تعريف واحد لما يسمى بـ«المطبخ الفلسطيني الأصيل». أريد أن أفهم التنوع الإقليمي والتقاليد العائلية والتجارب المعيشية التي تشكل ثقافة الطعام الفلسطيني.
ستكون التجارب الشخصية والتقاليد العائلية والمعرفة المحلية والإقليمية والوصفات أو المصادر التي ترون أنها تستحق البحث ذات قيمة كبيرة بالنسبة لي.

I’m researching Jordanian food culture for CELKARI, a food project exploring cuisines and food traditions from around the world.
I want to understand Jordanian food beyond the dishes most commonly presented to visitors and through the experiences of people who grew up eating it.
I’d really appreciate your thoughts on:
Everyday Jordanian Food
What did your family eat at home on an ordinary day?
Regional Differences Across Jordan
How do food traditions differ between northern, central and southern Jordan?
Bedouin & Rural Foodways
What influence do Bedouin, rural and pastoral traditions have on Jordanian food culture today?
Family & Generational Traditions
What dishes, techniques or traditions have been passed down through your family?
Hospitality & Communal Eating
What foods are particularly associated with hospitality, gatherings and sharing food?
Ingredients, Preservation & Seasonality
Which ingredients and traditional preservation methods are especially important in Jordanian cooking?
Foods Beyond the Tourist Menu
What foods would you want someone researching Jordanian cuisine to discover beyond the dishes commonly encountered by tourists?
Jordanian Food in the Diaspora
How have Jordanian food traditions been preserved or adapted outside Jordan?
I’m not looking for a single definition of “authentic” Jordanian cuisine. I want to understand the regional diversity, family traditions and lived experiences behind Jordanian food.
Personal experiences, family stories, regional knowledge, recipes or sources you think I should investigate would be greatly appreciated.

العربية
أجري حاليًا بحثًا حول ثقافة الطعام الأردني لمشروع CELKARI، وهو مشروع يهتم بدراسة المطابخ والتقاليد الغذائية من مختلف أنحاء العالم.
أريد أن أفهم الطعام الأردني بعيدًا عن الأطباق التي يتعرف عليها الزوار والسياح عادةً، ومن خلال تجارب الأشخاص الذين نشأوا وهم يتناولون هذا الطعام.
يسعدني جدًا أن أسمع آراءكم حول:
الطعام** الأردني اليومي
ما الأطعمة التي كانت تتناولها عائلتكم في المنزل في الأيام العادية؟
الاختلافات الإقليمية في الأردن
كيف تختلف التقاليد الغذائية بين شمال الأردن ووسطه وجنوبه؟
التقاليد البدوية والريفية
ما تأثير التقاليد البدوية والريفية والرعوية على ثقافة الطعام الأردني اليوم؟
التقاليد العائلية وانتقالها بين الأجيال
ما الأطباق أو طرق الطبخ أو العادات الغذائية التي انتقلت إليكم عبر عائلاتكم؟
الضيافة وتناول الطعام بشكل جماعي
ما الأطعمة المرتبطة بشكل خاص بالضيافة والتجمعات ومشاركة الطعام؟
المكونات والحفظ والمواسم
ما المكونات وطرق حفظ الطعام التقليدية التي تعتبرونها مهمة بشكل خاص في المطبخ الأردني؟
الأطعمة التي تتجاوز قائمة السياح
ما الأطعمة التي تتمنون أن يكتشفها من يبحث في المطبخ الأردني، بعيدًا عن الأطباق التي يتعرف عليها السياح عادةً؟
الطعام الأردني في بلاد **الاغتراب
كيف حافظ الأردنيون خارج الأردن على تقاليد الطعام، أو كيف تكيفت هذه التقاليد مع البيئات الجديدة؟
لا أبحث عن تعريف واحد لما يسمى بـ«المطبخ الأردني الأصيل». أريد أن أفهم التنوع الإقليمي والتقاليد العائلية والتجارب المعيشية التي تقف وراء الطعام الأردني.
سأكون ممتنًا جدًا لأي تجارب شخصية أو قصص عائلية أو معرفة إقليمية أو وصفات أو مصادر ترون أنها تستحق البحث

I’m researching Syrian food culture for CELKARI, a food project exploring cuisines and food traditions from around the world.
I’m particularly interested in understanding the regional diversity of Syrian food and what people who grew up with these traditions think is important for an outsider to understand.
I’d really appreciate your thoughts on:
Everyday Syrian Food
What did everyday home cooking look like in your family?
Regional Syrian Cuisines
How do food traditions differ between places such as Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Hama, the Syrian coast and eastern Syria?
Family & Generational Foodways
What dishes, techniques or food traditions were passed down through your family?
Ingredients, Spices & Techniques
Which ingredients, spices or cooking techniques do you think are particularly important to Syrian cuisine?
Seasonal & Celebratory Foods
What foods are associated with seasons, celebrations, weddings, religious occasions or family gatherings?
Overlooked Syrian Dishes
What Syrian dishes or food traditions do you think deserve more recognition outside Syria?
Misunderstandings & Misrepresentation
What do you think people outside Syria most commonly misunderstand about Syrian food?
Syrian Food in the Diaspora
How have Syrian communities outside Syria preserved or adapted their food traditions?
I’m not looking for a single definition of “authentic” Syrian cuisine. I want to understand the regional diversity and lived experiences behind Syrian food culture.
Personal experiences, family stories, regional knowledge, recipes or sources you think I should investigate would be incredibly valuable.

العربية
أجري حاليًا بحثًا حول ثقافة الطعام السوري لمشروع CELKARI، وهو مشروع يهتم بدراسة المطابخ والتقاليد الغذائية من مختلف أنحاء العالم.
أهتم بشكل خاص بفهم التنوع الإقليمي الكبير في الطعام السوري، ومعرفة ما يراه الأشخاص الذين نشأوا على هذه التقاليد مهمًا لفهمها من قبل الآخرين.
يسعدني جدًا أن أسمع آراءكم حول:
الطعام** السوري اليومي
كيف كان شكل الطعام الذي تتناوله عائلتكم في الحياة اليومية؟
المطابخ والتقاليد الغذائية بحسب المناطق السورية
كيف تختلف التقاليد الغذائية بين مناطق مثل دمشق وحلب وحمص وحماة والساحل السوري وشرق سوريا؟
التقاليد العائلية وانتقالها بين الأجيال
ما الأطباق أو طرق الطبخ أو التقاليد الغذائية التي انتقلت إليكم عبر عائلاتكم؟
المكونات والتوابل وطرق الطبخ
ما المكونات أو التوابل أو طرق التحضير التي تعتبرونها مهمة بشكل خاص في المطبخ السوري؟
الأطعمة الموسمية والاحتفالية
ما الأطعمة المرتبطة بمواسم معينة أو الاحتفالات أو الأعراس أو المناسبات الدينية أو التجمعات العائلية؟
أطباق سورية لا تحظى بالاهتمام الكافي
ما الأطباق أو التقاليد الغذائية السورية التي تعتقدون أنها تستحق مزيدًا من الاهتمام خارج سوريا؟
المفاهيم الخاطئة والتقديم غير الدقيق
ما أكثر الأمور التي تعتقدون أن الناس خارج سوريا يسيئون فهمها بشأن الطعام السوري؟
الطعام السوري في بلاد **الاغتراب
كيف حافظت المجتمعات السورية خارج سوريا على تقاليد الطعام، أو كيف تكيفت هذه التقاليد مع البيئات الجديدة؟
لا أبحث عن تعريف واحد لما يسمى بـ«المطبخ السوري الأصيل». أريد أن أفهم التنوع الإقليمي والتجارب المعيشية التي تشكل ثقافة الطعام السوري.
ستكون التجارب الشخصية والقصص العائلية والمعرفة الإقليمية والوصفات أو المصادر التي ترون أنها تستحق البحث ذات قيمة كبيرة بالنسبة لي

Hi everyone,
I'm hoping to get some honest feedback before I commit to a brand name.
A little about me:
I'm an autistic adult (also diagnosed with ADHD) from Australia who has spent the past year rebuilding my health. Since being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I've lost over 65 kg, dramatically improved my blood sugar control, lowered my blood pressure, and built sustainable routines that finally work for my brain after years of failed attempts.
One of those systems is an "Around the World Meal Prep" project where I cook a different country's cuisine each week. It keeps food exciting, reduces boredom, and has made meal prep something I genuinely look forward to rather than another chore.
My long-term goal is to turn what I've learned into a website and community focused on sustainable health, fitness, meal prep and practical systems from a neurodivergent perspective.
The working name is:
AspieFit
The tagline is:
"Different Brains. Different Strategies."
Before I invest in trademarks, domains, branding and a new WordPress website, I'd really like to hear from the community.
I'd love your honest thoughts on a few questions:
• What's your immediate reaction when you hear the name "AspieFit"?
• How do you personally feel about the word "Aspie"?
• Does the name feel welcoming, neutral or off-putting?
• Would it make you assume the content is only for people who identify with the term "Aspie", or would you still expect it to be relevant to the broader autistic or neurodivergent community?
• If you don't like the name, what concerns does it raise?
• If you do like it, what works well about it?
I'm genuinely not looking for validation. If there are issues with the name, I'd much rather learn about them now than after I've invested a lot of time and money into building the brand.
Please don't worry about hurting my feelings—I value honest, respectful feedback more than agreement.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and Hi everyone,
I'm hoping to get some honest feedback before I commit to a brand name.
A little about me:
I'm an autistic adult (also diagnosed with ADHD) from Australia who has spent the past year rebuilding my health. Since being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I've lost over 65 kg, dramatically improved my blood sugar control, lowered my blood pressure, and built sustainable routines that finally work for my brain after years of failed attempts.
One of those systems is an "Around the World Meal Prep" project where I cook a different country's cuisine each week. It keeps food exciting, reduces boredom, and has made meal prep something I genuinely look forward to rather than another chore.
My long-term goal is to turn what I've learned into a website and community focused on sustainable health, fitness, meal prep and practical systems from a neurodivergent perspective.
The working name is:
AspieFit
The tagline is:
"Different Brains. Different Strategies."
Before I invest in trademarks, domains, branding and a new WordPress website, I'd really like to hear from the community.
I'd love your honest thoughts on a few questions:
• What's your immediate reaction when you hear the name "AspieFit"?
• How do you personally feel about the word "Aspie"?
• Does the name feel welcoming, neutral or off-putting?
• Would it make you assume the content is only for people who identify with the term "Aspie", or would you still expect it to be relevant to the broader autistic or neurodivergent community?
• If you don't like the name, what concerns does it raise?
• If you do like it, what works well about it?
I'm genuinely not looking for validation. If there are issues with the name, I'd much rather learn about them now than after I've invested a lot of time and money into building the brand.
Please don't worry about hurting my feelings—I value honest, respectful feedback more than agreement.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I appreciate any perspectives you're willing to share.

About 13 months ago, my life looked very different.
I weighed 163 kg (359 lb) and was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes with an HbA1c of 13.6%. My blood pressure was also dangerously high, sitting around 200/90.
I knew something had to change.
At first, I thought the hardest part would be going to the gym.
It wasn't.
The hardest part was changing my relationship with food.
Instead of jumping from one diet to another, I decided to learn how to cook properly and committed to meal prepping every week. What started as simple chicken, broccoli and rice has grown into something I genuinely enjoy and look forward to every weekend.
Fast forward to today.
• Started at 163 kg (359 lb)
• Now around 100 kg (220 lb)
• Lost over 60 kg (130+ lb)
• HbA1c reduced from 13.6% back into the normal range
• Blood pressure now averages around 118/66
• Training consistently five days a week
One of the biggest milestones wasn't even seeing another kilogram disappear.
Last week I was wearing 48-inch pants, and they were already becoming loose. This week I bought my first pair of 46-inch pants, and they fit perfectly.
That honestly felt just as rewarding as seeing the number on the scales drop.
The biggest surprise through all of this has been meal prep.
I've turned it into a hobby.
Every week I choose a different country or city and build an entire week's meal prep around that cuisine while keeping it high in protein and suitable for weight loss.
Some recent weeks include:
🇬🇷 Greek Week
• Lemon Chicken & Pork Meatballs
• Lemon Herb Brown Rice
• Greek Salad
• Homemade Tzatziki
• Black Forest Protein Pots
🇺🇸 Kansas City Week (next week)
• Pan-Fried Chicken Bowls
• Homemade Kansas City BBQ Sauce
• BBQ Roasted Potatoes
• BBQ Chicken & Rice Bowls
• Kansas City Mud Pie Protein Pots
🇪🇹 Ethiopian Week (following week)
• Misir Wat
• Siga Tibs
• Berbere Roasted Potatoes
• Ethiopian-inspired High Protein Desserts
I've found that making food exciting again has made sticking to a calorie deficit much easier. Instead of feeling like I'm "dieting," it feels like I'm travelling the world through food while still working toward my health goals.
My current goal is to continue cutting until November before moving into a maintenance phase, and for the first time in my life this doesn't feel like a temporary diet—it feels like a lifestyle I've genuinely fallen in love with.
If anyone is interested, I'm happy to share the recipes, macros, or meal prep ideas. I'd also love to hear if anyone else has themed their meal prep around different cuisines from around the world.
Thanks for reading!