March: Nutrition Month

March is here—it’s recognized as Nutrition Month! A registered dietitian is the professional who is qualified to design a plan for you that promotes healthy habits that celebrate your heritage and is as special as you are.

This year’s theme is probably my favorite: “Celebrate a World of Flavors.” The foods we eat are often influenced by our family’s history and culture. They’re also influenced by where we live, our budget, and, of course, our tastes.

I grew up in a kitchen, surrounded by grandmothers whose hands always smelled of sofrito and recao. My first words were “Mom” and “Dad,” but the words that followed were related to the food they’d been introducing me to ever since my memory began to form: rice, cremita, mango… Food is so powerful, and the memories that accompany it are even more powerful. Food, then, becomes so much more than a source of nutrients and energy. For many of us, food is an important part of who we are, of our culture, of my family, and of my memories.

The food industry and mainstream advertising often overlook the diversity of food. They frequently try to make us believe that our main dishes aren’t part of a healthy diet. For me, my culture is my strength, which is why I won’t let anyone try to make me believe that rice—the main dish of Puerto Rican cuisine — is the enemy. That’s why I’m writing this: to remind you that it’s okay to love the foods we grew up with. You can enjoy your rice and beans. Enjoy the foods of your culture!