Growing Up Black...Eating
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tierraajon wrote: »I know it happens in the south and in other cultures, however you guys me being a AA female who has noticed this among people in my community. no offense you guys! But I love all the feedback!
I don't think any one here was offended at all. I think they where just sharing that the same thing happens in all cultures and saying they understand the struggle because it happens frequently no matter the race.
But I do have to admit that southern comfort foods are my favorite! I love cornbread warm with butter. I just love it! I frequently drive to a soul food restaurant that is an hour away just to order their cornbread. Lol! ( They have made the joke that I wasn't the only fairer skinned person that drives an hour to eat there! Lol!! ) So yes , your struggle is definitely real op !
And please feel free to invite me to dinner, I'll eat all the foods so you won't have to worry about it ! Lol6 -
There's a really cool book that talks about stuff like this. It's called "Eating Animals" -- and really it's about the author's decision to raise his kid as a vegetarian or not. But, there's a moment where he talks about how traditional food is. Food is family. Food is inexorably linked to tradition and warm times with family and community.
It talks about how hard it is to give up that community for a diet choice (whether that be eating less calories, eating less meat, eating less carbs). Family, especially older, worries and presses because they show their love through food and when you aren't a part of the meal they feel you aren't a part of the community.
You're right, education and acceptance is so important. If we can teach the next generation that the important part of tradition is roots and connection with the family (not the cornbread or Auntie's Pecan Pie) they might be able to make these choices more easily.
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Well, I dated a man who's family was from Denmark. Let me tell you, they can sit down and have 2-3 hour lunches with about 7 courses. Sandwiches, cakes, heavy cream, you name it.
I think the overeating issue is more of a case of just having too much and doing too little. As another poster mentioned, things were different not even that long ago. People in general were WAY more physically active. It was fine to eat a lot, because it got worked off. And going back further, I'd say that people ate as much as they could as they didn't know when they'd eat well again.
In my opinion, it's a combination of our sedentary lifestyle, our human hard wiring of "eat all you can", and as others said, growing up with poor eating habits - so they are ingrained in many of us (myself here in Canada) - that contributes to obesity and health issues. I really can't say it's any one thing or group or area in particular.6 -
@RoseTheWarrior nailed it on the head. We are almost universally far less active than we once we're as a society, yet our family traditions support the manual labor lifestyle of previous generations.
My dad and his dad and all his brothers dug ditches. My mom grew up on a family farm.. All of my great grandparents were farmers. Their parents were farmers and peasant laborers. They all worked very long hard hours and required a lot of calories. The social adjustment regarding food was harder for my generation than the actual lifestyle change to less manual labor.3 -
1. They had a program on Howard University TV about southern cooking and how it is going to kill you. Not only are people eating nutrition-less food, they are eating way too much of it. I've eaten right this month (meat, veggies, fruit and no grains, sugar, flour, potatoes, oil) and lost 5 pounds. It's like watching the weight fall of my pear shaped hips and thighs. 2. You have to decide if you want your health or someone's approval. Go for health! 3. Before I go to a family fest or Thanksgiving type dinner, I posted what I was going to eat to see how much that "pecan pie" cost me in carbs. It was worth it because I only eat it once a year. Also, because I'm the only one who eats it I get it at the church bazaar where I can purchase one piece and don't have to eat the whole pie. You have to be smart about these things.3
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HUTV "Is there hope for soul food junkies?" and "Is soul food a sacrament or a sin?"0
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NOW I'M CRAVING BISCUITS AND GRAVY DAMNIT.4
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what happened to my posts about Howard TV's show on soul food?0
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caroldavison332 wrote: »what happened to my posts about Howard TV's show on soul food?
It's there, I can see it.0 -
Maintaining now and not much has changed for me in that area. I still eat my meats and cornbread/biscuit. The side just happens to be salad, greens, potato versus mac & cheese and all the other high calorie stuff. I have to have my cornbread/biscuit though if not 2 or 3
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This post reminds me of when I used to visit my sister in law, who is black. Holidays and birthdays especially - SO MUCH FOOD. However, she is fit and trim - although the family on her side is quite heavy. She seems to have escaped it, which I attribute to her being a fitness freak 1
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This post reminds me of when I used to visit my sister in law, who is black. Holidays and birthdays especially - SO MUCH FOOD. However, she is fit and trim - although the family on her side is quite heavy. She seems to have escaped it, which I attribute to her being a fitness freak
Sounds like my family and I. I used to be among them in the fatty department, but now I stick out like a sore thumb.2 -
Definitely a southern way of eating. My parents are both from Louisiana. I remember visiting family friends who were white and ate the same. We ate this exact way when I was growing up. I didn't gain the unwanted weight until after having kids and weight was never an issue in my family. I do know this is why I rarely eat good ol southern or cajun/creole food. Had more than my share growing up. When the craving kicks in I can get down in the kitchen on the menu tho lol.3
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My family cooked a lot too. And was adamant about cleaning our plates! About carbs though, it's not about the carbs: http://www.forksoverknives.com/obesity-its-not-about-the-carbs/0
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fanceegirl75 wrote: »Definitely a southern way of eating. My parents are both from Louisiana. I remember visiting family friends who were white and ate the same. We ate this exact way when I was growing up. I didn't gain the unwanted weight until after having kids and weight was never an issue in my family. I do know this is why I rarely eat good ol southern or cajun/creole food. Had more than my share growing up. When the craving kicks in I can get down in the kitchen on the menu tho lol.
Dammit, now I want some Gumbo. Gonna have to try it over cauliflower rice.1 -
You and me both @Gallowmere19841
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I grew up eating "soul food" in NJ but then I grew up and prepared more balanced meals for my children. DH was born and raised in the south, and has a difficult time letting go of bad habits (all of his immediate family is overweight/obese). I didn't realize how uneducated he is about food. Of course I have tried to teach him how to read and understand labels and such. But, he loves to eat comfort food and hates to exercise. I even try to prepare a healthier version I find online and he hates it before he eats it so, he eats what he eats and I eat what I eat.3
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I grew up eating "soul food" in NJ but then I grew up and prepared more balanced meals for my children. DH was born and raised in the south, and has a difficult time letting go of bad habits (all of his immediate family is overweight/obese). I didn't realize how uneducated he is about food. Of course I have tried to teach him how to read and understand labels and such. But, he loves to eat comfort food and hates to exercise. I even try to prepare a healthier version I find online and he hates it before he eats it so, he eats what he eats and I eat what I eat.
Here's a hint: don't tell him what's in it before he eats it. I've gotten friends of mine eating some interesting stuff, just by letting them assume it's their normal type of food.3 -
Gallowmere1984 wrote: »I grew up eating "soul food" in NJ but then I grew up and prepared more balanced meals for my children. DH was born and raised in the south, and has a difficult time letting go of bad habits (all of his immediate family is overweight/obese). I didn't realize how uneducated he is about food. Of course I have tried to teach him how to read and understand labels and such. But, he loves to eat comfort food and hates to exercise. I even try to prepare a healthier version I find online and he hates it before he eats it so, he eats what he eats and I eat what I eat.
Here's a hint: don't tell him what's in it before he eats it. I've gotten friends of mine eating some interesting stuff, just by letting them assume it's their normal type of food.
Thanks! I will have to try it but the first thing he says is, " oh hell naw you got that off the internet didn't you?" LOL!
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Just pick a random cookbook that you know he'd be cool with, and tell him you found it in there. You could always print it out and cut it to fit the book, so you're not technically lying.
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