Embrace your cultural foods

Ginisang munggo (Filipino mung bean soup) with shrimp

Remember when Filipino food wasn’t “cool”?

I think most Filipino Americans (among other cultures) can relate to growing up feeling ashamed to eat our food in front of Americanized friends. What if they think it’s gross? Or that seeing a fish head served on the table is scary and weird? Patis and bagoong — that shit smells funky.

I wonder if this made some of us turn toward Americanized food to fit in. I still can’t believe I begged my mom to buy me Lunchables to bring to school. Did I even like it? Let’s unpack that another time…

While cultural cuisines are starting to be celebrated, you don’t really see Filipino food recommended as a healthy choice. There’s a narrative that our food is “unhealthy”, even within our own community. Sure, our cuisine has some greasy, high fat, high sugar dishes. Don’t most cuisines?

And what about the nutritious options?

You hear me talk a lot about how important it is to embrace your cultural food, whatever that means for you. Why? There are many reasons why we eat. Understanding factors that influence what we eat, why we eat, and how we eat often gets overlooked. If eating was as simple as consuming food just for fuel, then it wouldn’t be as complex.

Food is tied to our culture, family, community and our overall wellbeing.

It’s time to unlearn the typical, boring representation of a healthy meal (dry ass chicken breast and steamed broccoli with no flavor— I’m talking to you!) and reframe how we view our cultural foods. How can you include more of your cultural foods while supporting your health?