Healthy Eating and Heritage: How to Respect Tradition While Eating More Fruits and Vegetables
Food is More Than Just a Fuel
Have you ever wondered why you crave certain foods or why some meals just feel like home?
That’s because our food choices are more than just hunger. They’re deeply tied to our cultures, traditions, and upbringings.
Think about the meals you grew up eating and how it has shaped your diet. What our families fed us has shaped what we consider “normal” or “comforting.”
Culture also plays a role in our food choice. For example in some cultures, breakfast is savory (miso soup, rice, eggs), while in others, it’s sweet (pastries, cereal).
In this post, we’ll explore how where you come from, what you celebrate, and even family traditions all play a role in what you eat every day.
What’s Your Food Style?
Texture is part of what I like to refer to as the basic, staple pieces to your Inside Style. Culture and tradition are where your style starts to form. It’s what makes you, unique and special.
Here are some questions that will help define your food style:
- As a child what foods were always on the table?
- What are the meals that you associate with celebrations (birthdays, graduations)?
- What’s always served during different holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas)?
- How about meals you eat that are a part of your culture (tacos, sushi)?
- Do you have traditions around certain meals (New Years, Diwali, summer BBQ at Uncle Joe’s house)?
Balancing Tradition with Healthy Eating
Now you don’t have to completely give up these traditional and cultual foods. You can still enjoy all of those meals, if you choose to. Focus less on what you can’t have and more on getting creative. For example, choose to fill up on fruit or vegetable dishes first, that way you are slightly full and then have a smaller portions of those other dishes.
Noticed how I said IF you choose to. I say “if” because for some people, the choice to change their diet stems from a place of need. Meaning in some sort of way their diet affects their well being. This happened to me and was the reason I needed to change my diet. So if you are in the same boat, don’t worry, it may be difficult at first but it gets easier. Like I mentioned before focus on getting creative.
So what do you do if these traditional and cultural meals aren’t ones you are able to eat? You get creative and tweak it a little. Here are some ways to do that:
- make ingredient substitutions
- omit ingredients, if possible
- use the same sauce or seasonings from the dish and pair them with a bunch of vegetables
- search for a plant based version of that recipe, as it will include more vegetables
- get creative and start a new tradition with a new dish
Expanding Your Food World
Naturally certain cultures and traditional diets tend to be more vegetable heavy in their dishes. So be open to trying new fruits and veggies from different cuisines. Honestly, it can be a whole lot of fun!
Give these a try:
- Tropical fruits from Latin America
- Spice blends from India, Korea, China
- Vegetable based Mediterranean dishes.
Action Step
Take some time to go through the questions above. Then take one traditional meal you love and find a way to add some fruits or vegetables. Or maybe try to using one of the substitutions I’ve listed to new version of an traditional meal.
Now that you have an understanding how traditions and cultures shape what’s on your plate be sure to check out these other posts.
Knowing the Right Questions to Ask About Your Eating Habits
Why the Texture of Food Matters – and How to Still Eat More Fruits and Vegetables
Healthy Eating for Busy People: Easy Ways to Add Fruits and Veggies Every Day
Effortless Nutrition: How to Eat More Fruits and Veggies Without Breaking the Bank
