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Happy Women’s History and Happy National Nutrition Month!
As March marks a time to reflect on the major contributions women have made to the world, the month is also a perfect time to work to address the challenges women still face.
From conversations surrounding reproductive rights, to maternal health challenges, and various diseases, women face major health challenges, many of which are discussed on national and global scales. For African American women, who are more likely to die due to cardiovascular disease, hypertension and certain cancers, it’s particularly important — this month and beyond — to discuss tools to combat health disparities and work to improve overall wellness outcomes.
With it also being National Nutrition Month, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to evaluate the correlation between Black women’s health and the foods consumed.
Merriam-Webster defines nutrition as, “the sum of the processes by which an animal or plant takes in and utilizes food substances.” Thus, when examining nutrition, particularly as it relates to a certain group, it’s important to acknowledge that group’s relationship with food, how substances for nourishment are accessed and utilized.
Black Americans’ relationship with food roots back to Africa and is mixed with its own traditions from slavery, to a means of liberation, joy and expressing culture. From enslaved times, when scraps were served as meals and access to food was limited, to the birth of soul food and the traditions of Sunday dinners, Black food is critical to African American life and culture.
From visionary chef and cookbook author Edna Lewis, who redefined Southern American cooking, to singer Pattie Labelle’s celebrated sweet potato pie, Black women have been critical to sharing Black food and culture with the nation and world. As such, the soul food they prepare and share should not be criminalized, but celebrated, and appreciated in moderation– like anything else, for that matter.
First of all, there’s nothing inherently wrong with traditional soul food meals if prepared with keeping health in mind. In fact, soul food can be rather balanced, with many meals including a high-fiber vegetable such as collard greens, a lean protein such as chicken or fish, and one starch such as macaroni and cheese or potatoes.
Greens (collard, kale, or mixed) — sans pork or additional sugar and sodium — can be a great way to keep a soul food staple high on your diet. Macaroni and cheese lovers might opt for plant-based or whole-wheat noodles to cut the carbohydrates, or opt for baked sweet potatoes as opposed to candied yams. If incorporating meat, perhaps trying baking or grilling a fish or chicken as opposed to frying it.
Further, for those craving that old-fashioned fare, doing so in moderation, such as for holidays, is not the worst thing in the world as long as consuming those foods don’t go against pre-existing health challenges or other beliefs and practices.
Here’s the thing, we’re not trying to take away the joy from eating. We’re trying to emphasize the importance of Black women’s overall wellness.
Nutrition is key in prioritizing health. With diseases facing African women at disproportionate rates, examining Black women’s relationship with food is important in the overall battle for health equity.
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