Taste of Belonging Cookbook

The presence of food sets the table for conversation and curiosity — two essential ingredients for building community among people who have different backgrounds and identities. Under the right conditions, food can be a positive entry point for activities and initiatives that decrease prejudice between different groups.

Welcoming America created this cookbook as a tool for meaningful connection across differences. It pairs recipes from diverse cultures with activities that connect people around a shared table and get them working together on a common goal. It also includes models on intergroup contact theory, which have been tested in several regions of the U.S. by diverse peoples. The cookbook concludes with more promising community building models. Recipes were submitted by members of the Welcoming Network and staff, many shared from previous generations and some from abroad.