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Afghan Dastarkhwan: Eating Healthy on a Budget in the United States

In Afghan culture, Dastarkhwan refers to the traditional mat or spread where food is placed. Families sit around it to enjoy their meal and time together. The name was selected to represent the beautiful tapestry of food traditions in Afghan culture and to provide a symbol of home, hope, and celebration.

This toolkit, developed by National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants (NRC-RIM), weaves together best practices in nutrition and cultural humility with evidence that nutrition education efforts are most impactful when they respect and include cultural traditions. All materials have been culturally validated and translated from English to Dari and Pashto. The toolkit provides budgeting tips, nutritional education components, and an opportunity to discuss ways to cook healthy recipes.