Do you remember as a kid your family’s tradition around food, was it Sunday night roast, was it a big Christmas Lunch and leftovers for a week, we all have stories to tell, or do we! Food traditions, what are they?
It seems we may be losing our nutritional traditions; food traditions, what are they. I’m not sure a lot a families have them anymore, what are they and are they being replaced by social media or not having time to eat together at least once a week.
Many of us don’t have time to spend hours in the kitchen cooking up a feast but is this what is required to create a nutritional tradition, I don’t think so.
Food traditions used to be the fabric of society and culture. Family gatherings, which usually evolved around food celebrating providing a chance for generations to pass on customs, values, and morals. It was through these learning experiences, that we discovered more about where we came from, which then has an impact on how we evolve as individuals.
There are only a few things that bring people together and good food is one of them. Food can nourish the mind and spirit as much as the body.
No matter what your cultural background, the traditions of food are almost always central in connecting family, friends and community.
Marilyn Annecchini, co-owner of Italian restaurant Pilu says in an interview done with her “Our yearly family tradition of making bottled tomato sauce, or passata, began around 45 years ago. Initially as a young child waking up before dawn, wasn’t something I looked forward to, but it was non-negotiable. My grandparents grew the tomatoes, we all had jobs, from washing tomatoes to building the fire for the large drum that held the filled bottles. It wasn’t until I had a family of my own though, that I really understood the importance of this tradition and now I look forward to it every year. My 95-year-old grandmother is still actively involved, and it remains a wonderful day which reunites all the generations of our family.” (Our food traditions are the vital ties that hold us together, 2019) What an amazing tradition to pass on that sense of community of helping, creating and giving back.
Traditions give us something to look forward to, and they remind us to be grateful.
So, what is your family nutrition tradition, it doesn’t have to be some big extravagant dinner, it can be something small, something your children will remember in 20 years’ time is all you need!
References
Food. 2019. Our food traditions are the vital ties that hold us together. [online] Available at: <https://www.sbs.com.au/food/article/2020/01/19/our-food-traditions-are-vital-ties-hold-us-together>
