The Importance of Attaching Culture to Food

Hiya Peeps,

Since I have been on my Sexy body summer challenge, I have been looking for recipes that are clean. (check out the summer body blog for details)I have found that the dishes I have enjoyed the most are those that I am familiar with, but for one reason or another I have not eaten for awhile.

WATCH MY BODY!

Okay, okay, If i'm honest I hated West Indian food my wonderful mum used to cook it every bloody day.  Guyz I know we have all waxed lyrical about that routine of soup on Saturday, rice and peas every bloody Sunday, etc etc... As a teen that stuff gets boring real quick. However, since trying to find the healthiest yet tastiest recipes I can tolerate, I have been drawn back to those same recipes mummy used to cook.  My dad is the greatest Ital chef so overall my parents have been a great inspiration to do some research and find some familiar and some undiscovered treasures. (I am thinking about making blue drawers)

Jamaican Blue Drawers aka Duckunoo

Through the food my parents laid the foundations for pride in my heritage.  When you are a second, third or even fourth generation West Indian living in the Metropolis it is easy to lose yourself in OPS (other peoples sheeeeeeeeeeeeeet) We understand just by residing outside of your country of origin some of the cultural practices will be lost. Can you imagine cooking curry on a coal fire outside the crib in South East London?  However, we must continue to give our children an understanding of their heritage and culture. Food is a great way to do this.

Coal Stove bubbling

I have seen many a young person play acting at being African, Trinidadian and Jamaican. Ain't never been there in they're lives but the need to be close to and be a part of their own thing, is deep. So I no longer laugh at the brother with a bicycle decorated with 3000 flags and a boom box in the basket. As I now understand the need that we all have as human beings to be a part of our own culture.

Jamaican Coat of Arms

Now peeps you know I have to keep it real with you and there are undoubtedly some negatives to eating healthily. Like the freekin costs, yes guys if you do not mind sharp you will go broke on the health tip. I have found some great ways to combat some of the costs and I have now got it down to a fine art. The biggest tip I can give you is to make your own where possible.  For example, dairy free products are expensive, especially if you have a family.  But you can make your own and save yourself a bundle.  I will be making Hemp milk this week so I will let you know how it turns out.

Good but it's cost ya