In celebration of Black History Month, OMG! Fitness held a class about how to make healthy versions of soul food classics (but really, soul food is perfect anytime). Prepping for this class I learned a lot of things I didnt know or simply took for granted. As an African American Southerner, I always assumed that soul food and southern or country cooking were one in the same - WRONG! Soul food has its origins in the Deep South (like Alabama and Mississippi), uses humble meats if any and is heavily seasoned (most prominently by salt or sugar). But why though? Slaves and then later share croppers had available to them "inferior" meats which was either already cured and too salty for regular consumption or considered not suitable to be eaten in "fine society". So African Americans took to adding those cured meats like ham hocks and salt pork to vegetables and beans to stretch its usage. Sugar which was and still is a huge cash crop would never be given out, but molasses was available to these pioneers to make still other foods edible. I said all that to say, back in the day they did the best they could with what they had yet we've grown accustomed to eating in a certain type of way and we don't have to. Because of the times that we live in now, most of us have available healthier alternatives to some of those ingredients giving us all the flavors and feelings of soul food without the issues of elevated blood sugar and high blood pressure levels! If you'd like a copy of the recipes please send me an email or leave a comment below.
Also don't forget to listen to the latest episode of Taking Turns! Push play on the right!!
Also don't forget to listen to the latest episode of Taking Turns! Push play on the right!!
