Another round of weekend reads:

It's time for our next edition of Weekend Reads!

       

Choose your favorite from the four articles below. Pick whatever interests you most. After reading through it, download the most recent Lively Exchanges free worksheet and use it to help you assess what you have read.

       

Up for an extra challenge? Create some of your own discussion questions for the article you chose and discuss the topic you chose with your study group, friends or classmates!

Take your pick from the following list:
        

Topic #1: Some international cuisines have a reputation as being healthier than others. In the US, a Mediterranean diet (think dishes with lots of veggies and olive oil, as well as some fish and red wine) has been associated with certain benefits. But how about foods from other parts of the world? This article discusses how a group of people is trying to improve the way people in their community eat by teaching how to cook African dishes. (Bonus: this article includes a recipe for something yummy!)

          

"'There are alternative foods that other cultures have historically eaten that could be slightly shifted, for a whole different perspective of what is healthy and what is nutritious.'"

         

Forget the latest diet fad - here's a class that teaches how to eat better with traditional African dishes

        

        

Topic #2: Did that first article make you hungry? Then try this one, too! In May, the bison was chosen as the national mammal of the United States. And in Yellowstone National Park, it's also a popular menu item…

          

"Whether it was buttermilk biscuits smothered in buffalo sausage gravy, petite buffalo sliders, bison carpaccio, bison bratwurst, or hot-off-the grill buffalo ribeyes, it turns out bison is a breakfast, lunch or dinner kind of protein."

           

Beyond Bison Burgers: Around Yellowstone, The National Mammal Is Local Cuisine

           

         

Topic #3: Depending on who you ask, a zoo might be educational or entertaining. It might be a place that helps animals at risk of extinction. Or it might be a place that keeps wild animals in captivity, causing concern for animal welfare. A recent decision by the Buenos Aires Zoo to close down and re-house their animals in natural reserves has caused many people to reconsider the role of a zoo. This article presents 10 reasons that the current system for housing animals on public display might be ready for an overhaul:

         

"'This situation of captivity is degrading for the animals, it's not the way to take care of them.'"

         

As A Major Zoo Closes, 10 Reasons To Rethink The Concept

          

          

Topic #4: World markets have seen a lot of turmoil over the past few weeks, but people in Venezuela have been suffering much longer. Dependency on oil exports has left the country in a crisis. And yet, while many people cannot buy basic necessities, other people are well-off. This article looks at what is causing such inequality:

         

"'There's less than half the goods on the market now than in 2012. You can imagine how that impacts people's well-being.'"

            

Venezuela's Economic Implosion Exacerbates Inequality

        

          

And finally...
         

Let us know how your discussion went! What did you talk about with your group? Did your discussion increase your understanding of the article? Post about your experience in the comments section on the blog.