Leena Watts
Decolonizing one's diet involves eating foods that are indigenous to one's ancestral land, while standing in solidarity with Indigenous communities. This can include eating plant-based foods and crops like corn, beans, squash, tomatoes, and potatoes, and recognizing the historical context and labor behind the production of the food. It is about creating a new world that is decolonized, where one's relationship with food is nurtured to restore the body and repair past traumas. Decolonizing one's diet is not just about health, but also about addressing bigger issues such as the exploitation of farmworkers and the pollution of water, which negatively impacts the health of marginalized communities.
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What You'll Learn
Returning to cultural heritage cuisines
Decolonizing one's diet is about returning to cultural heritage cuisines and honouring one's ancestral foodways. It is about recognizing the struggle of one's ancestors and the impact of colonizers on the health of marginalized communities.
For some, decolonizing their diet means removing chicken, beef, pork, and dairy products from their diet, as well as wheat, as these were introduced foods. It is about reclaiming one's kitchen and cultural heritage, and honouring an indigenous diet that is local, organic, seasonal, sustainable, ecological, and native. This can be achieved by integrating pre-colonial ingredients and locally sourced produce.
For those who feel disconnected from their ancestral food practices, it can be helpful to start by learning about the region their family came from and researching the foodways of that area. It is also important to recognize that decolonizing one's diet is not about rigidly recreating the past, but rather creating a new world that is decolonized through a balance of experimentation and tradition, with a focus on ingredients.
In addition to individual efforts, there are also organizations working towards an Indigenous foods movement as a means of cultural renewal, environmental sustainability, and reclaiming food sovereignty and personal health. These organizations provide education on traditional edible plants, promote the use of indigenous food plants, and work to protect traditional foods, biodiversity, farming techniques, and the cultural heritage of Indigenous communities.
By decolonizing our diets, we can not only improve our health but also reconnect with our cultural heritage and honor the struggles of our ancestors.
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Reclaiming ancestral ingredients
Decolonizing one's diet is a deeply personal journey that involves reclaiming ancestral ingredients and cooking methods. It is about honouring one's cultural heritage and recognizing the struggles of one's ancestors. For some, it is a way to address health issues that have disproportionately affected certain communities due to colonial influences.
Another important aspect of reclaiming ancestral ingredients is understanding the historical context of food and its connection to the land. This includes recognizing the labour and indigenous knowledge that goes into producing food, as well as the negative impact of colonial systems on the environment and indigenous communities.
Additionally, decolonizing one's diet is not just about individual choices but also about collective action. It involves standing in solidarity with indigenous communities and supporting sustainable and ethical food systems. This may include shopping at local farmers' markets, learning about indigenous foodways, and advocating for the rights of indigenous peoples to their land and food sources.
Finally, reclaiming ancestral ingredients is a process of continuous learning and unlearning. It is about embracing the connection between food and cultural identity and allowing that connection to guide one's dietary choices. It is important to note that this journey will look different for everyone, and there is no rigid instruction manual to follow.
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Recognising the labour behind food
Decolonizing one's diet is about recognizing the colonial history of food and the impact it has had on indigenous communities and their food practices. It involves learning about the history of the food you eat, the labor that made it possible, and the communities behind it.
In the context of Mexican cuisine, Luz Calvo and Catriona Rueda Esquibel, authors of the cookbook "Decolonize Your Diet", emphasize the importance of reclaiming the pre-colonial roots of Mexican food and embracing indigenous traditions. They promote a plant-based diet rich in plants native to the Americas, such as verdolaga (purslane), quelites (lambsquarters), and wild onions, which have traditionally been a part of Mexican diets.
For those who may not have a direct connection to their ancestral food practices, it is still possible to decolonize your diet by learning about the indigenous foods of the land you live on and standing in solidarity with indigenous communities. This could include learning about the history of colonization and its impact on food systems, as well as supporting indigenous food producers and businesses.
Decolonizing your diet is also about recognizing the labor and struggles of those who came before you. This could mean learning about the history of slavery and its connection to food, as well as the health impacts of colonial diets on communities of color. It is about honoring the connection between food, community, and the landscape, and recognizing the importance of native plants and ingredients in sustaining both our ancestors and the environment.
By decolonizing our diets, we can not only improve our health but also work towards social justice and solidarity with indigenous communities, honoring their traditions and correcting the negative impacts of colonization.
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Addressing health issues
Decolonizing one's diet is not just about embracing one's heritage; it is also a movement to address the fact that certain communities have historically struggled with health issues such as high blood pressure, cardiac problems, and obesity.
For instance, African Americans have the highest obesity rates of any group in America, with 40.7% of Black adults qualifying as obese. By looking to their roots in terms of food choices, African Americans can potentially find relief from these health issues that have disproportionately affected them.
Similarly, a Mexican-American woman shared her experience of 'decolonizing' her diet for a week, which meant eating only foods indigenous peoples would have had access to pre-colonization. This included removing chicken, beef, pork, dairy, and wheat from her diet, as these were introduced post-colonization. Instead, she focused on eating local, organic, seasonal, sustainable, ecological, and native foods.
Luz Calvo and Catriona Rueda Esquibel, authors of the cookbook 'Decolonize Your Diet', also promote a plant-based diet rich in plants native to the Americas. They were motivated to write this cookbook due to Luz's breast cancer diagnosis in 2006. They found that Latinx born in the United States have twice the risk of breast cancer compared to Latinx born in their home country, and they attribute this to dietary factors.
In addition, decolonizing one's diet can also be about healing one's relationship with food. Kate Nelson, an Alaska Native (Tlingit), shares her journey of decolonizing her diet to repair past traumas and revive Indigenous wisdom for future generations. She emphasizes that traditional foods are meant to teach us how to live on the land and how to be better humans.
Overall, decolonizing one's diet is about addressing health issues by making more nourishing food choices, connecting with one's cultural heritage, and standing in solidarity with Indigenous communities.
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Standing in solidarity with indigenous communities
Decolonizing one's diet is a deeply personal journey that involves removing colonial influences from one's food choices and embracing ancestral, heritage cuisines. It is about honouring the land one lives on, recognising the struggles of ancestors, and standing in solidarity with indigenous communities.
For some, this means eliminating foods introduced due to colonialism, such as chicken, beef, pork, dairy, and wheat. It can also mean adopting a plant-based diet, rich in plants native to the Americas, or exploring indigenous traditions and ancestral Mexican diets. This can have significant health benefits, as seen in the example of Latinx immigrants in the United States, who have lower rates of breast cancer than their US-born counterparts.
Decolonising one's diet is also about recognising the labour that goes into producing food and being grateful for it. It involves learning about the food one eats, the history behind it, and the impact of colonisation on indigenous communities. This knowledge can help one make informed choices, such as supporting indigenous food systems, which are often healthier and more sustainable than highly processed, colonial food systems.
By decolonising one's diet, one can reclaim their cultural heritage, heal their relationship with food, and address the health issues that disproportionately affect certain communities, such as high blood pressure, cardiac problems, and obesity. It is a journey of self-discovery, community building, and honouring the past, present, and future of indigenous communities.
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Frequently asked questions
Decolonizing your diet means eating food and crops that are indigenous to your land while standing in solidarity with Indigenous communities. This may include eating plant-based foods and crops like corn, beans, squash, tomatoes, and potatoes. It is about recognizing the struggle of your ancestors and choosing to refrain from the foods they consumed as a result of colonialism.
Decolonizing your diet can provide a guide to healthy living and help address health issues that have disproportionately affected certain communities, such as high blood pressure, cardiac problems, and obesity. It can also help to restore your body, repair past traumas, and revive Indigenous wisdom for future generations. Additionally, decolonizing your diet can be a form of climate social justice by acknowledging the treatment of Indigenous people and recognizing that cheap, highly processed foods are generally unhealthy.
You can start by eliminating foods that were introduced as a result of colonialism and replacing them with indigenous alternatives. This may involve learning about the historical context of your food and the labor that went into producing it. You can also try incorporating more plant-based meals and traditional recipes into your diet, such as those passed down through your family or found in cookbooks like "Decolonize Your Diet: Plant-Based Mexican-American Recipes for Health and Healing" by Luz Calvo and Catriona Rueda Esquibel.
