During the years of enslaved Africans on America’s soil, The Enslavers wanted to turn the biggest profit available on their farmed goods. So everything from clothes made out of potato sacks to rice bags being used as pillows for the enslaved, they had to micromanage the allowance of all resources. Food and nutrition was one of those managed resources. Slaves would often get monthly allowances of food which depending on geographic location could include a measure amount of pork or its equivalent in fish, salt, a bushel of corn meal and a minimal amount of vegetables that usually grew in proximity of or within weeded areas. If one of the enslaved or their family collectively consumed their food before the month was over, they were on their own to survive. In turn they learned to keep garden patches where they grew their own corn, seasonings, greens and watermelons and berries seasonally.
From the collection of the allotted foods along with the seasonings and vegetables in the garden patches, came dishes such as:
-Skillet Cornbread
-Corn Pudding
-Grits
-Chitlins & Maw
-Mustard Greens & Ham Hocks
-Barbecued Pig Feet
-Candied Yams
-Red Beans & Rice
-Dirty Rice
These foods have been proven to be high in fat and high in energy; the exact recipe you would want to deliver if you wanted your worker to have energy for the entire day of being in the field.
The daily, grueling, tedious work of the enslaved was probably most comparative to being in the gym with a Trainer like Chris Fitness from 7am – 5pm outside in the 100 degree weather with a hooded sweatsuit on.
Compare that to my daily life and my activities do no shed a beam of light on the mental strain, anguish, stress, and physical dexterity that they must have endured.
I say all of this because I’m wondering if we have held onto “Soul Food” as an emotional attachment to the past.. It’s common sense that the continued consumption of the aforementioned foods without equal physical labor [exercise] output, it will lead to fat tissue creation, elevated blood pressure levels and potentially gout, circulatory issues, Cardiac Issues and potential diabetes.
Do you still eat “Soul Food”?
If so, are you attached to the taste of the food or the tradition that usually occurs around the meal i.e. a Sunday family meal, a family gathering with elders who work endlessly in the kitchen with no recipes..If you do consume “Soul Food”, do you choose your ingredients wisely? i.e. Organic foods, fresh and clean cooking oils?
In all honesty, there are several foods classified as “Soul Food” that can have beneficial percentages of good vitamins & minerals including the consumption of greens and other enriched vegetables like sweet potatoes as well as fruits. My only concern is that we may not be using the healthier versions of the ingredients as a part of the tradition. I’m going to remove my emotion from the meal and concentrate on the delicious home made recipes made with contents with my life in mind.
For some healthy choices and all around healthy recipes, frequently check back with us on our AlumniRoundup Food Archive
www.Twitter.com/RoundupRussy
People eat soul food because it tastes good. By now (2010) most people have a decent idea of which foods are beneficial and which are detrimental. This post reminds me of a point made by “The Boondocks.” The show illustrated how in the movie “Soul Food” after Big Mama had to get her leg cut off due to diabetes, the family came together for “Sunday Dinner” and ate the same greasy, salt-filled food that caused their grandmother’s demise. It used to be ignorance (a lack of knowledge) but now that people know and still do it, it’s willful self-destruction. *If anybody remembers the name of that Boondocks episode post it*
We do love the taste of soul food. However, everything should be done in moderation. We do not have to eat the whole half of chicken for example. Portions are the most important. The other thing that I hear in this post is that they ate to sustain their energy that was being expelled throughout the day. So we also need to get out and exercise. So some of the things that went into creating soul food was and still is necessary and vital to sustain a balanced lifestyle. The fact remains that we took nothing and made something out of it, and we all still love it today over the other options, just eat responsibly!