I grew up with the ethos that rice is life. Rice holds such an exalted place in the Chinese culture as a staple food and life force that the word itself represents an entire meal and conveys hospitality; it’s our custom to greet another person by asking whether he or she has eaten rice yet.
My husband, an all-American guy who grew up in a Seattle suburb on pot roast and boxed mac-and-cheese, did not.
Thankfully, our 10-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son have grown to like tofu and rice as much as they like pepperoni pizza and burgers, and they understand that mealtimes are important to me.
Jonathan Wilhoite Blog 