I’m sure for many of us, much of our earlier memories revolve around food as do the way in which we raise and look after our families. But the question is, how much of it is actually rooted in staying connected with our traditions and culture? Given the cosmopolitan communities many of us live in today, it is fair to say that a big chunk of our culture has been diluted, and in many cases, even lost. For example, how many of you have children who refuse to speak in the language of their mother-tongue? Or only listen to Western music? This really leaves us with very few options, with food being one of the only things we have left to pass down. But, what if what is being passed down is not always good for the future generation? Let us talk about that!

Starting with…

Food Habits

This is more than just what we eat, but whom we eat with, when we eat and the way in which we source, consume, store and dispose of our food.

To what extent does our culture allow us to maintain sustainable eating habits? Are we consuming more than we need to be? Are we consuming the right foods? Are we being wasteful? All valid questions, and whether we realise it or not, all very much related to and rooted in our culture and upbringing.

Moving on to…

How cultural food habits are affecting the way we eat?

The what, why, how and who are all important factors when considering cultural influences on food habits. People are social beings and it is no surprise that food has become the focal point of many cultural traditions, as it is the perfect tool for bringing people together.

It is also not unusual in many cultures for a person’s love or generosity to be measured by the size of the meal provided, often leading to us catering for far more people than we are feeding, which naturally, results in a great deal of waste.

Another challenging cultural influence on food habits is the pressure to consume more food than we want or need; forcing us to continue eating or to accept food even when full to avoid being perceived as ungrateful or disrespectful.

Is this really important? And how does this affect our children?

For one thing, children learn from their elders. If you grew up watching your parents load up their plates with excessive amounts of food, all whilst encouraging you to do the same, rewarding you for clearing your plate and in some cases, punishing you for NOT finishing your meal, then it is fair to assume that bad habits will inevitably ensue. With many of us having grown up in a similar household, it is fair to assume that we do struggle with overeating, and often eat passed the point of fullness. It is only recently that we’ve learned to check in with ourselves to make sure we are not yet full before going in for another bite or reaching for seconds.

What can we do about it?

While culture can be heavily ingrained, it is also fluid. It is therefore up to us to set our own boundaries, whilst also remaining true to our cultures and traditions; the occasional overindulgence is okay, but it doesn’t have to be the norm. We do this by:

• Saying ‘no’ when we are full
• Cooking enough food to feed your family or guests, but not too much, especially if they are foods that don’t keep well.
• Asking our kids if they’re full before encouraging them to take another bite, especially if they have eaten a decent amount already.

In short, remembering to be mindful. Like most things, this takes practice, and can still be achieved without losing sight of who we are and where we came from.

Would love to hear some thoughts on this, so please feel free to share in the comments!