Farmers found that foods like potatoes and cabbage do much better, so those are frequently found in traditional Slovak foods. Bryndzové halušky for example uses potato dumplings instead of noodles, which are made of wheat. Farmers also found that sheep can stay healthy through winter, which is where bryndza cheese comes from. Slovaks also had to find ways to stay active and entertained through winter. Lots of children learn to ski and ice skate from a young age. Hockey is the most popular sport in the country. Though Slovakia is small, it consistently does well in international championships and several Slovaks play for professional hockey teams in the U.S. and Europe.
