May 11, 2021
Traditional foods, flavors, and cuisines offer a variety of healthy and delicious choices. Celebrate the cultural heritage of your family and friends with recipes and resources from Nutrition.gov, like these three nutritious meal ideas:
- Latin American Heritage: Corn, chilies, squash, tomatoes, plantains, yucca, beans, and avocados are popular ingredients in Latin cuisines. Bring your household together for a family meal of chicken enchiladas served with refried beans and guacamole-topped salad greens.
- Asian Heritage: East and South Asian cooking uses strong spices and lots of vegetables to flavor meals. Traditional Asian ingredients include bok choy, water chestnuts, bitter melon, seaweed, lychee, papaya, soy foods, rice, and noodles. Prepare an Asian-inspired dinner at home by pairing this Mo (Moo) Indonesian Stir-Fry entrée with fresh cut papaya or mango for dessert.
- African Heritage: Traditional African cuisine uses a variety of ingredients, including leafy greens, cabbage, yams, okra, cassava, corn, nuts, dates, and tamarind. Enjoy the flavors of peanuts, sweet potatoes, and spinach in this one-pot Peanutty Stew.
Personal and cultural preferences are important for building lasting healthy habits, and the meals shared above provide only a small sampling of the culinary traditions in different countries and cultures. Explore more resources and culturally inspired recipes on Nutrition.Gov's Twitter account or in our Food and Nutrition Updates e-newsletter.
Category/Topic:
Food and Nutrition