I’ve heard it many times: “My grandmother ate pork, rice, fried food, bread, everything, and lived to 93!” Yes—but did Grandma live the same lifestyle we live today?
Many of our grandparents walked more, worked physically demanding jobs, tended gardens, cleaned by hand, and cooked from scratch. Today, many of us spend hours sitting at desks, in cars, or on our phones. We can’t always combine yesterday’s eating habits with today’s lifestyle and expect the same results.
This isn’t about criticizing our Latino food. It’s about keeping Latinos healthy enough to enjoy our culture for years to come. We don’t have to eliminate arroz, plátanos, tortillas, or Abuela’s recipes. We need conversations about portions, preparation, movement, preventive care, and knowing our numbers, especially when conditions like diabetes run in our families.
We also need to educate our elders differently. “Mami, you can’t eat that anymore” probably won’t work. Speak their language. Use foods they recognize. Explain portions visually. Take walks together. Attend medical appointments when appropriate and ask questions.
Don’t forget our children are watching. We can have Sunday dinner and take a family walk afterward. We can keep the recipe and change the portion. Healthier choices don’t make us less Latino. Maybe instead of saying, “Grandma lived to 93,” we should ask: What can I do to reach 93 with a good quality of life? Keep the arroz. Keep the music. Keep Abuela’s recipes. But let’s also keep Abuela. And Mami. And Papi. And ourselves.
Because preserving our culture should also mean preserving the people who carry it. Our culture is beautiful, but some of our health beliefs need to change.
Rosa Julia Parra
Founder of Palo Magazine
