Food
is any substance that provides the nutrients necessary to maintain life and
growth. There are many ways to eat healthy and we are not limited to one right way. For example, there are different methods of cooking vegetables such as
stir-frying, steaming, boiling or even eating them raw. United States is a
mecca of cultural diversity. In 2016, nearly 326 million people legally
immigrated to United States from the Caribbean, Central and South America,
Asia, Africa, and Europe.1 As humans continue to migrate, so does
food and dietary habits. For example, we can experience Chinese cuisine flavors through a stir-fry pork dish made with soy sauce, rice wine,
and ginger root; Mexican cuisine flavors through a meal combined with tomatoes,
onion, chili pepper, and cumin; and experience Italian cuisine flavors through
a pasta made with tomato, garlic, basil, oregano, and olive oil.
As
immigrants have transformed food in the United States, food for immigrants is a
cultural identity. Food is a way to stay connected to the land they left
behind while cultivating a feeling of security and comfort in a new
environment. Moving three years ago to United States and eating a plate of rice, beans, and fried
plantains represents home and each bite reminds me of the beautiful beaches of
Puerto Rico, the warm weather, and my mother’s kitchen. The Puerto Rican
cuisine is influenced by a mixture of cultures: African, Spanish, and Taíno
(indigenous group). This blend of cultures makes the Puerto Rican cuisine
delicious and preparing a Puerto Rican dish makes me feel close to my identity,
as well as home even though I am 1,713 miles away from my loved ones.
For
others, food means preserving balance and harmony; for example, eating
“yin/yang” foods2. In Asian culture, “yin” foods are believe to cool
and moisten the body and are low in calories. While, “yang” are foods that are
believed to warm the body and are characterized as high in calories. Some “yin”
foods include: vegetables and fruits. Some “yang” foods include: meat,
poultry, fish, eggs and alcoholic beverages. In addition, food represents
strength, vitality, and health.
Food
ties us to our culture and is a portal to experience new cultures when you are far away from home. Immigrants have provided us accessibility to different
cuisines and adventures. It is important to be mindful when trying new cuisines
and take into consideration the history and special place it has for the
person who prepared the meal.
1. Largest U.S. immigrant groups over
time,1960-present. Migration Policy Institute website. https://www.migrationpolicy.org/programs/data-hub/charts/largest-immigrant-groups-over-time?width=900&height=850&iframe=true. Accessed
October 19, 2018.
2.
Goyan P, Sucher K, Nahikian-Nelms M. Food
and Culture. Cengage Learning, 2016. Print.
