How to Incorporate Your Child's Culture into Healthy Eating

We recently shared the importance of spending time with your children as parents. Another great way of bonding is cooking with family. Some of the healthiest meals you can eat are home-cooked. Studies show that people who eat home-cooked meals consume fewer carbohydrates, less sugar, and fat than their counterparts. This guide will help you incorporate your child’s birth culture into healthy eating habits for your family. Keep reading to learn more!

Do Some Research

The first step in trying anything new is to research the topic beforehand. What is your child’s birth culture? If you have access to this information, consider your child’s birth parents’ country of origin and ethnicity. From there, you can learn what dishes are commonplace from their heritage.

There are a variety of ways to begin your research. One of the first ways is to connect with your child’s birth relatives, if possible. Birth relatives are the best and most direct way to gain insight into your child’s specific heritage.

Other ways to expand your knowledge are to google popular dishes from the cuisine in question, whether Korean Cuisine or Soul food dishes. Also, consider making research a group activity.

Take your child to the library, where your family can find a wealth of information through cookbooks. Note the recipes you all would like to try most.

Meal Planning

Now that your family has a list of dishes that pique your interest, it’s time to start planning! The goal of planning is to connect with your child’s birth culture while also maintaining eating habits. If needed, narrow down the list to dishes that incorporate the healthiest ingredients but still suit your flavor palate. Examples of great ingredients are whole grains, dry beans, and leafy greens.

If the cuisine is new to your family’s lifestyle, create a schedule for trying different meals. For example, have one meal from your list each week for Sunday dinner. Prepare by reviewing the recipe ahead of time and adding the ingredients to your weekly grocery list. Several grocery stores carry international products in designated aisles where you may find the necessary ingredients. You can also make a trip to a specialized supermarket that sells food products from your child’s birth region (Asia, Caribbean, Latin America, etc.).

Make it a Family Affair.

Recipe? Check. Ingredients? Check. Now you are ready to start cooking! A great way to prepare a meal is to make it a family affair. Try to find a day and time where everyone in the family can take part in cooking. There are several reasons to cook as a family. Not only are you spending quality time with your child, but you are also showing them you are committed to learning their birth culture too. Teaching your child to cook is also a significant influence as you will instill healthy eating habits at an early age. These skills will stay with your child, making them more likely to make healthy choices and prepare their meals as an adult.

Take the activity a step further by inviting your child’s birth family to join. If the birth relatives are able, they can provide a cooking lesson right at home. Having a special meal together is also an excellent way to have a birth parent visit and bring the whole triad together.