I was born and raised in South Texas, right along the Gulf of Mexico. Both of my parents are of Mexican decent and grew up with the rich foods of their culture. It was important for them to raise my brother and me to be knowledgeable of our culture and the foods they grew up on. We ate together as a family at least once per day. We had homemade tortillas on the table along side a bowl of fresh cut fruit. Having a lot of color on our plate was a priority.
I learned from them the importance of balance, but the bigger message was that all foods fit. No matter how rich the food was, it was always balanced out to make a well-rounded meal. No food was ever forced on us, but we were always encouraged to try new things as my parents constantly introduced new foods to us.
I have already introduced my two-year-old to my mother’s famous enchilada recipe. I balance it out and make sure all five food groups are included by serving protein hearty beans and stewed squash on the side. Both of which are staple side dishes of my culture. I want my children to grow up eating the same foods that I grew up on and instill those same values my parents raised me with. As parents, it is our job to be the eaters we want our children to be. It starts with us and our children will carry those values with them as they grow.
What are some of the cultural traditions that you celebrate during family meals?
Images: Estela with her family as a child. Estela’s daughter enjoying quesadillas.