Healthy Diet

One of the biggest challenges for African-American women is diet. Our family history tells us to eat many of the traditional foods that are higher in fat. Regardless of the level of education, some meals remain popular in the household.

Foods like fried chicken, cornbread, collard greens cooked with pork and pork fat, macaroni and cheese (sometimes with four different cheeses) and other such foods are a part of the regular diet. Sunday meals are favorites. However, good eating and health can survive in the same room provided some adjustments are made during food preparation.

Some of the leading causes of death among African-Americans are high cholesterol, heart disease and stroke. We must change our diets in order to change the rate we continue to die disproportionately from these diseases.

Personal health narratives from women who are a part of the community are being used to help personalize the message that managing weight and making better decisions about lifestyle are vital to the health of the African-American community. The use of personal narratives from other black women may help all of us readily identify with the illness described.

Attitude change is the first step to losing the pounds.