Happy Day 8 of our March Challenge!! Ladies, I’d love for your to weigh-in on what I know is a serious discussion in our community. “Soul Food Junkies” recently aired on PBS and it has definitely spurred some conversation (video below) on this topic.
- Is Soul Food a main component of our weight gain equation?
- Why is soul food so important to us and is that a reason to defend it without question?
- Should black people stop eating soul food?
- Should we just cook our soul food in heathier ways? What would those ways be?
- Has soul food been demonized?
- How can we both celebrate our food heritage and eat healthy?
I would love to know what the Black Women Losing Weight sisterhood thinks about these questions.
A note about the film:
“At least, this is the theory that drove Hurt’s documentary. His father, Jackie Hurt, was a soul food lover, and he was obese. He died of pancreatic cancer in 2004 at the age of 63. His father’s death led the filmmaker to examine the significance of this black culinary tradition—and the consequences of it on our health. (Diet-related health statistics for black folks are frightening: 4 in 5 African-American women are overweight or obese, and African Americans in general are more than twice as likely as whites to die of diabetes.)” – blackhealthmatters.com
Den-Ray says
My response to this is everything in moderation. We must remember that soul food was born out of a word that is now so taboo to even mention…slavery. It was what we were allowed to have (chitterlings, fat back, etc.). We took it and made wonderfully tasty meals that kept us fueled all day. Most of us are substantially more inactive than our ancesters were and the combination of these [sometimes] fatty foods and diminished activity can cause substantial weight gain. Most of us are not blessed with turbo charged metabolisms nor do we go to the gym enough to support a constant diet of traditional soul food. The answer is not to abandon these foods completely, you mentioned healthier options and cutting back. These are both viable options. We can love and eat these foods without allowing it to threaten our health and longevity. I’M NOT SKINNY, this is a health issue not a size issue.
Lisa says
Actually, unless someone is eating a constant diet of soul food, my response would be, “No”. Personally, soul food is mostly indulged in on the holidays, and every once in awhile at some special celebration or an occassional dinner out with a friend. Soul food is not a staple in my diet. For most African-Americans today, I would think processed foods and a steady diet of high sugar/salt, low nutrition foods and snacks are what is causing the high obesity rates. Coupled with inactivity or no regular exercise routine, such a diet is a recipe for disaster! We have to make wise choices.
tonia says
I agree with Lisa, soul food has become a holiday tradition in most black families and not eaten on a regular basis.My family only have soul food at Thanksgiving and Christmas and I add plenty of healthy alternatives to the table as well.Most black families dont exercise or eat well balanced foods they eat snacks and processed food,a lot of can veggies instead of fresh fruit and veggies,drink alot of soda pops(mainly younger generation)I dont think there is nothing wrong with eating soul food in moderation and using healtier ways to prepare it.
Virginia I says
I love soul food , but I think prepration
Has a lot to do with weight loss .
Instead of ham hocks with greens use
Beef broth . Cornbread can be made with
Less calories, use skim buttermilk, egg
Substitute and mayo instead off oil . Be
Creative .
Come On, Get Up! says
Most soul food, because of the way is prepared is high in calories and cholesterol. A once in a while drop in on this may be okay. However, most people that I know that eat this type of food, eat it on a regular, daily basis and their weight testifies to their diet. They are overweight to obese and suffer from high blood pressure and high cholesterol. People who are health conscious and understand health management may try to eat the same foods by cooking them differently, with different ingredients and style of cooking, i.e., baking versus fried, steaming those greens with some other type of seasoning besides fat back. Soul food in itself is not the problem. The problem is in how the food is prepared and the ingredients used in the food.
Sandra says
Soul food can put on lbs. It’s gd but how it’s prepared is not gd for your health. Cholesterol and high blood pressure r some problems you can get for over usage. Every now n then maybe ok, but moderation is the key.
Angela says
Soul Food is not the culprit here…WE are! I prepare soul food all the time, but go a healthier route. Last Sunday we had cabbage (cooked with smoked turkey), brown rice (kids didn’t touch it) and baked chicken (kids put BBQ sauce on theirs). It’s how we prepare the food that makes it bad. I’m from the South and we LOVE our Soul Food. I’ve learned that I can have these foods, but with a little planning, can be just as tasty without all the fat. I don’t cook like this all the time, but once or twice a month on Sundays. I’m finally getting my kids to eat baked chicken, baked fish, broccoli and eating whole grains. When we know better, we do better. And, I am definitely trying.
jae says
Let’s be real, most of us or our families still cook a “big mama’s” meal on sunday. We fry chicken, cook greens with hamhocks and indulge on cornbread. I agree that in moderation it could be ok, but with all the knowledge availalbe to us we can modify our soul food feel so that they loose the calories and not the taste.