Candied and fried insects are regarded as mouth-watering sishes in some parts of the world-just as roast mice make a perfect meal in other parts. Some people, however, may find it disgusting to eat any of these foods. Likewise, the horse meat that is served as a delicacy in certain areas of France might never be acceptable to most Americans, even those who are "hungry enough to eat a horse."

What makes people choose some foods over others, then? As experts dig into this issue, they have discovered several factors. Among them, geography, customs, and traditions are the most important ones.

geography often plays an important role in the foods people choose. Take millet for example. It is one of Africa's main crops because it can thrive in a hot climate. This is exactly why it is also found in certain Asian countries where the average temperature tends to be hight. In contrast, the cold climate close to the North Pole makes it necessary for the Inuit to get the fat and protein they need from the blubber of whales.

Another example is the potato. It is a staple in many people's diets, especially those living in mountainous areas with poor soil. The potato can adapt itself to different climates. As a result, it is often grown in many European countries, and it is even thought of as "second bread."

In addition to geography, customs and traditions are two other important factors that affect people's choices of food. In Japan, lobster is served as an essential part of a birthday meal because the shape of a lobster is similar to that of an aged person with a hunched back. One additional example is that on New Year's day, people in Greece bake a special type of bread containing a good luck coin, which is usually made of silver or gold. Whoever finds the coin in his or her serving of the bread will be blessed with good luck for the comming year.

Similarly, on Chinese New Year's Eve, many Chinese gather around the table with their family to make and eat dumplings. The shape of a dumpling looks like a "yuanbao," a type of money that was used in ancient China. A yuanbao represents wealth and satisfaction in Chinese culture. Therefore, when people are making dumplings, they are symbolically creating wealth. Eating dumplings can also mean "putting wealth into one's pockets." When people have had enough dumplings, interestingly, their stomaches often become "yuanbaos" as well. This is one of the ways that the Chinese ensure a prosperous year.