Point 1. How can food help bring different cultures closer together?
Food is a language in a way, and when we bring other foods into our kitchen, we have the chance to bring the habits and tastes of that culture into our lives without having to physically travel. There are many ways of traveling and the kitchen is one of my favorite ways to visit different countries. When you cook a feijoada for example, there is a piece of you that goes to Brazil. When you cook a beef bourguignon, a piece of France comes to your kitchen. When you cook pasta cacio e pepe, a piece of Italy lands in your home. As we talk about the dishes, the places, and the people from that country, we connect with them. That’s why cooking is also a language, a way of communication, not just something about the way we eat, but the world we live in. Cooking is a democratic art. We all eat a few times a day and it remains the single most effective way to connect body, heart, and soul with health. What we choose to eat is part of what we are and part of what we would like to be.
Point 2. How do you incorporate your heritage into your everyday life?
Instead of looking at the kitchen as a burden, where you have to prep, cook, eat, and clean, I encourage people to incorporate habits and traditions from their own culture and look at time through self-improvement, using healthy cooking as a tool for that. I like to enter the kitchen with a different perspective: turn on the music , put on an apron (usually a green apron with lots of Brazilian colors), and see cooking as a source of health, a way of relaxation, family gathering, and therapy. For me, it’s a place where I can sing and dance some samba, talk in Portuguese with my kids when they cook with me, and even exercise, all while cooking an amazing healthy meal! I also try to keep in mind that portion control is here to help us. I also try to visit the farmers market often. (Rita an experienced cook)
Point 3. Cooking for one doesn’t have to mean eating alone
For some single people, cooking for yourself just means having to spend more time alone. You may choose to regularly eat out—even if it just involves sitting alone in a fast food restaurant—to feel a connection to other people. Eating out means you’re more likely to meet new people, strike up a conversation with a stranger, or at least break the monotony of another evening alone. However, cooking for yourself doesn’t have to mean eating alone. With some creativity, you can cook healthy, inexpensive meals at home, and still find that connection to others that we all need. Cook a little extra and invite a coworker or neighbor to join you if social distancing rules allow. Everyone loves a home-cooked meal and most people who live alone are in the same boat as you. They probably feel just as awkward about reaching out as you do. Be the one to take the initiative. You may even be able to share cooking responsibilities—one prepares the entrée, the other dessert, for example. Cooking with others can be a fun way to try out new recipes and deepen relationships. Make your food at home, then eat out at a park, picnic area, or other public place. Enjoying home-cooked rather than store-bought food can make for a good conversation starter. Shop for food at a community or farmer’s market instead of a grocery store or supermarket. People here are more likely to take the time to discuss the food and give cooking tips, making it easier to make new friends. If you don’t have people in your life that you want to eat with, find ways to meet new people. Take a cooking class, join a club, or enroll in a sports team or special interest group that meets on a regular basis. Volunteering for a community organization is another great way to expand your social circle and find future dining companions.
