Overall fat content in the diet is low. Relatively few households in Laos eat sweets. Most are not equipped with ovens to bake desserts. A steamed rice cake may be eaten occasionally. Techniques Hmong food is usually home grown.
Meats are usually fresh, home butchered, and shared among clan members to keep storage time short.
Hmong meals are served in a communal style. Using fingers to eat is impolite. Cooking methods include stir-frying, boiling, steaming, and roasting over an open fire. Vegetable oils and pork fat are the principal fats used in cooking. Food is usually chopped in uniform pieces before cooking.