Culturally Related Food and Identity

Something that really caught my attention and made me think during and after class was when we discussed the topic of culturally related food and identity. Why do we eat the things that we do today? Why did our parents feed us the foods we ate growing up? Personally, I am half Hispanic and half Irish and because of that I grew up eating many different foods. I never really thought too much about it because when I was a lot younger I thought it was normal and that everyone ate the same things but I was wrong.

Hispanic food is the guiding force that brings my family together. My father was born and raised in Mexico to a family of ten. Growing up, his family did not have a lot of money or good fortune. During the hardships of his childhood, he fondly remembers the ethnic meals his mother made and how it always brought the family together. He inherited the cultural intelligence of his Hispanic heritage and passed it on to my mother, sister, and I in the form of food. My mother incorporated my father’s cultural heritage and learned how to prepare the Hispanic food my father was raised on. Growing up, I specifically remember eating: Atole, Sopa, Tamales, Enchiladas, Paella, Beans, Tortillas, Tacos, Carne Asada, Grilled Corn, and Mole. Every Christmas, my father’s side of the family would get together in Walla Walla Washington where all of the women in the family would celebrate Christmas by making Tamales. This only occurred once a year because preparing Tamales is a long process and requires a lot of work. Not only do we cherish the moments we have together as a family, but we cherish the taste of food as well.

After reflecting on my past meals at friend’s houses when I was younger I specifically remember one time when I went to one of my old friends house that was born and raised in a Muslim home. One night, she had invited me over to hangout and her mother ended up making everyone dinner and my parents allowed me to stay for it. We all sat on the floor to eat dinner and I started to eat how I knew to, with a fork because it was spaghetti. All of the sudden, her father and mother started to laugh at me and I was super confused. My friend leaned over to me and said, “it is the way you are holding your fork and eating” they then continued to eat with their hands which I was super unfamiliar with but totally cool with. I talked to my friend after dinner and asked her why her family ate food the way that they did. Her answer was that it was just a cultural norm for Ethiopians to consume food in that manner. She explained to me that she was raised in this way, and growing up did not know anything different. It wasn’t until she started going to school when she saw other kids eating food with utensils on a daily basis and realized that her families traditional way of eating food was a custom inherited from her culture. 

I have never thought about that experience until we talked about culture, food, and all the memories that simply come with a meal. Looking back at that experience I am so thankful that it happened because I got to experience something new and how people enjoy and eat their meals in different ways.

Super Size Me is a documentary that involves an individual and the drastic consequence that McDonalds Food has on his health. This documentary highlights how the fast food industry has encouraged and influenced poor nutrition solely for profit. The advertisements promoting the consumption of fast foods can be seen everywhere you go, and has incorporated itself into the cultural identity of Americans. Personally, I have turned from eating traditional Hispanic food to fast food in order to keep up with the high expectations of the Westernized culture. Over the last few years, my food identify has shifted from my cultural upbringing to the pull of westernized culture.

 

As I grow older, why have I turned to consuming more westernized food rather than preparing the Hispanic food that I was raised on and that I am culturally connected to?

For the past few years, my diet has significantly changed. I have turned away from eating Hispanic food that I was so accustomed to. Now that I am living on my own, attending college, and playing a collegiate sport, I have turned to eating fast food as well as microwavable food. I believe that my busy schedule and increase in responsibilities has limited my time and efforts in preparing the traditional food that I was so accustomed to eating. At this time in my life, fitting time in my daily schedule to sit down and eat a homemade meal is almost non-existent. I find myself turning to easily accessible and easily made food. I believe fast food companies like McDonalds have been successful due to the Westernized culture that has shaped young adults like myself in searching for the cheapest, quickest, and most fulfilling food. I have found myself turning away from the food I identify with to food that takes the least amount of time and effort to make.I have turned to consuming more westernized food due to it being easily accessible, easily made, and easily paid for. My cultural connection to Hispanic foods has become limited. Instead of turning to homemade Tacos, Enchiladas, or Burritos, I have found myself turning to Taco Bell, Chipotle, or Taco Time. Watching Super Size Me made me realize that I am eating the same food that made this individual psychologically and physically sick. The documentary really makes me rethink about what I am putting into my body. I always think that I will never get sick from this food or even the food that I was raised on but it really makes me stop and think about what I need to be eating overall.

Katie Coronado
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