Explore how small, health-conscious changes to traditional foods like Lomo Saltado can preserve cultural identity while promoting wellness in Latino communities.
Lomo Saltado is more than just a dish; it’s a reflection of Peru itself, a perfect blend of flavors from the jungle, mountains, and city. My mother taught me how to make it, sharing her secret tips as we cooked together. Every time we sat down as a family, it was about more than food, it was about preserving our culture, our heritage, and the stories behind each ingredient.
"Now that I live in America, I still make Lomo Saltado, but things have changed. I try to find spices that resemble the ones from Peru, and while it’s not always easy, it’s possible to adapt. I’ve learned that it’s possible to maintain our culture here, even in the kitchen. To make Lomo Saltado healthier, I’ve started replacing the French fries with boiled potatoes and cutting back on the rice. Small substitutions—like swapping out carbohydrates for vegetables—allow me to keep our traditions alive while making the dish better for our health."
This balancing act between tradition and health is something many families face, especially within Latino communities in Georgia. While cultural foods are cherished, they can often be high in carbohydrates, fats, and other ingredients that contribute to rising rates of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. The challenge isn’t just about making healthier choices, it’s about making those choices affordable, accessible, and culturally relevant. Too often, the conversation around healthy eating overlooks the importance of cultural foods. Telling communities to abandon their culinary heritage isn’t the answer. Instead, we need to make health-conscious changes within the framework of cultural traditions.
The good news is that healthy eating doesn’t have to mean sacrificing cultural foods. Small substitutions, like what my mom has done with her Lomo Saltado, can make a significant difference. Replacing French fries with boiled potatoes, using less oil, or adding more vegetables are all practical steps. These changes maintain the integrity of the dish while improving its nutritional profile. However, for this approach to succeed, we must also address the broader issues—social determinants of health that prevent many Latino families from accessing healthier ingredients. Affordability and availability of fresh, nutritious food are major barriers in many Latino communities. Tackling these challenges requires a multigenerational approach that encourages families to make these changes at home, starting with children in elementary schools. Educating kids about healthy eating habits from an early age can help combat obesity and improve heart health long-term.
One of the barriers to effectively addressing this issue is the lack of reliable data on Latino health in Georgia. Latino communities are often underrepresented in public health statistics, making it difficult to gauge the full scope of health disparities. Without accurate data, it’s harder to advocate for the resources these communities need, whether it’s access to healthier food options or targeted public health campaigns.
As healthcare providers, we must acknowledge that improving diet and health outcomes in Latino communities requires a culturally sensitive approach. We need to advocate for better data collection to understand the health needs of these populations more clearly. But beyond that, we should be working to make healthier choices more affordable and accessible. Whether it’s supporting local initiatives that bring fresh produce to underserved areas or implementing nutrition programs in schools, these efforts can help ensure that families like mine don’t have to choose between their culture and their health. Healthy eating is possible without sacrificing cultural identity. As a medical community, we can lead the way.
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