By: Constance Brown-Riggs
If you’ve never tried African heritage cuisine, then participate in the annual African Heritage & Health Week. It is the perfect time to discover why its savory flavors and naturally healthy features make African Heritage cuisine the next big food trend. Oldways, the food and nutrition education nonprofit organizing the celebration, challenges everyone, everywhere to enjoy at least one dish at home or at a restaurant inspired by the cuisine of African-American ancestors and Oldways’ African Heritage Diet Pyramid.
Coinciding with Black History Month, African Heritage & Health Week commemorates the foods, flavors and healthy cooking techniques that were core to the well-being of African ancestors from Africa, South America, the Caribbean, and the American South. Scientific studies show that many chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity, now prevalent in African American communities, appear in populations as traditional diets are left behind. Black History Month is the perfect time to commemorate and explore the healthy culinary side of history.
“Part of history is, of course, the foods that have sustained a culture,” said Sara Baer-Sinnott, president of Oldways. “We are seeing a rise in the popularity of the vibrant flavors and delicious foods that offer a key to better health in the African community. African Heritage & Health Week is an opportunity to raise awareness and elevate this cuisine, which is far from the unhealthy soul food some might think of. What better time to dedicate a week to African Heritage and Health than during Black History Month.”
To help you explore a restaurant in your area, Oldways has created a new “African Heritage Dine Around” section on its website. There you’ll be able to find dining destinations across the nation, from pop-up shops to fine dining restaurants that serve healthy cuisines from the many regions of Africa and the African Diaspora. From Ethiopian to Ghanaian, Jamaican to Cuban to Southern style, African heritage restaurants bring a wide variety of plant-based dishes, cooking techniques and flavors to our communities.
If a meal at home shared with family and friends is more appealing, Oldways suggests its own recipe for Jollof Rice as an option. Jollof is a traditional African rice dish that is not just delicious and healthy, but budget friendly too. You’ll also find plenty of other heritage recipes on Oldways’ website.
Oldways also invites local organizations from coast-to-coast, including restaurants, faith-based groups, schools, and hunger initiatives, to join in the week-long African Heritage & Health celebration. “The best way to inspire healthy eating is with food that tastes great,” said Baer-Sinnott. “African Heritage and Health Week is a time to motivate and inspire people to bring back healthy ‘old ways’ of eating. We want to stir up excitement and expose all Americans to the delicious, easy-to-prepare, nutritious foods and flavors of African heritage.”
Don’t stop with African Heritage and Health Week – keep the momentum going by signing up for the new African Heritage & Health Quarterly Newsletter. You’ll receive African Heritage & Health program updates, delicious recipes made with wholesome ingredients and information on the latest health studies pertaining to African Americans.
About the Author: Constance Brown-Riggs, MSEd, RD, CDE, CDN is the author of The African American Guide To Living Well With Diabetes (New Page Books 2010) and Eating Soulfully and Healthfully with Diabetes (iUniverse 2006). Her work has appeared in books for health professionals and healthcare consumers. Visit her Website at www.eatingsoulfully.com , follow her on twitter at www.twitter.com/eatingsoulfully and like her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/livingwellwithdiabetes
