This article explores the profound impact of shared meals on mental health and cultural connection. Drawing on the experiences of Danielle Chang, founder of LUCKYRICE, it highlights how food transcends borders and generations, fostering unity and breaking down barriers.
Research shows that sharing meals benefits mental health and well-being. At age 5, Danielle Chang immigrated to the United States with her family. In grade school, while she sifted through her lunchboxes full of cultural treats ranging from eggs to a chicken foot, she faced ridicule. Other kids encircled her on the playground, chanting words in a language she could not yet fully understand.
Two words that Danielle's ears did recognize were,'Ching Chang,' a mocking phrase that happened to be her mother's name. Since then, Danielle has integrated culinary arts with her experiences as a first-generation Chinese immigrant to foster unity and belonging. She has become the founder and CEO of LUCKYRICE and host of the Emmy-nominated PBS series'today, I wonder,'Could joining through food play a role in improving well-being?' In a quest to explore this, I spoke with Danielle.Appreciating family has always been central to Danielle's life. She portrays what she calls'a common immigrant story.' Her parents worked with incredible vigor to build a new life in the United States and carve out a space. Yet, Danielle's family always took time to eat meals together. She paints a vivid picture of her family gathered around this table, even with all this bustling activity, each night. This is something she could look forward to and a way for them to relax. Rice and soup were two staples that Danielle says especially'smell and taste like home,' which Danielle still loves today. When Chang reached adulthood, she continued this tradition through Sunday dinner parties, using meals to engage with friends and family. She illustrates casual but sacred gatherings with intentionally selected foods. In Chinese culture, specific foods and food colors are linked with symbolism, such asand well wishes. She discusses a custom wherein families in China will sometimes create food as an offering to ancestors and create a prosperous harvest while also enjoying food together with those still alive. What Danielle illuminates here is not rare. Be it among the fellow “old folks” my grandpa ate breakfast with every morning at a local Hardees for years until he died, or in families sharing around a table in another country, food brings people together across all times and places. It is something so simple and vital to our lives that brings with it comfort and meaning. Youth who partake in meals with their families tend to exude greater psychological and social health than those who do not have this privilege (Glanz et al., 2021). Among aging populations living in nursing care orfor families affected by serious mental illness. Here, therapists often meet with several families in a support group community. Sharing a meal can give a sense of normalization to the difficult experience these families are going through while also facilitating conversations that might not otherwise ignite in a typical therapy environment (Chow et al., 2010).Through her many endeavors, Danielle has sought to grant others a small window into her Chinese heritage. She expresses that reactions to food are usually glowing with curiosity. Danielle expands,'Food is the most palliative and universal lens through which people experience a culture that sticks. When you have a good meal you want to learn more about the ingredients, the cooking method, any kind of symbolism behind the food, and that just brings you closer to the culture.' Food is a part of all cultures. The interest sparked by food can be an enemy of ignorance. If people can slow down and eat a meal together, sometimes even deep-rooted challenges like xenophobia can be chipped away at. We can remember what we have in common and what we can learn from each other.In my conversation with Danielle, I learned a new term,'hot pot.' A hot pot is a communal dish wherein individuals will crowd around meats, dumplings, and other foods that can be dipped and cooked in a boiling pot of hot water or soup. Each person's contribution changes the taste of the broth. All participants can enjoy their chosen foods. After completing the first round of food, the party will distribute the soup, taking in a co-created meal. She calls this'a literal melting pot.' As I listen to Danielle, my first response is,'I want to do that!' Secondly, however, I am struck by the beautiful representation of joining together and co-creation. A tradition that perhaps we all can learn from.The Lunar New Year for 2025 begins on Jan. 29. This holiday celebrates the changing of the seasons as measured through the changing of the moon. Reunion, cooking, and making dumplings give rise to the charm of this holiday. Enjoying whole foods (for wholeness), candy (for sweetness), and a palate of other foods designed to welcome prosperity into the coming year are aspects of these celebrations
Culture Food Mental Health Wellness Culture Community Chinese Culture LUCKYRICE Danielle Chang Hot Pot Lunar New Year Shared Meals
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Embracing the Mediterranean Lifestyle: A Journey Through Food and CultureThis article explores the Mediterranean diet and its origins in Crete, Greece. It delves into the key principles of this lifestyle, including seasonal eating, traditional recipes, and the importance of social connection. The author shares personal anecdotes about Cretan cuisine, emphasizing the abundance of fresh produce, olive oil, and herbs. It also highlights the benefits of incorporating Mediterranean practices into daily life, such as taking time to savor meals, indulging in moderate portions, and connecting with nature through foraging.
Read more »
Gulf Shores to Build New Pedestrian Bridge After Holmes Bridge ModificationsThe city of Gulf Shores will construct a new $24.3 million pedestrian bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway to replace the walkway lost on the W.C. Holmes Memorial Bridge after the addition of a vehicular lane. The Holmes Bridge, unable to support an additional lane for pedestrians and cyclists, necessitates the new bridge, scheduled for completion by Thanksgiving 2026.
Read more »
From Ford to Food: How This Michigan City's Food Trucks Are Driving Economic RevivalIn Dearborn, Michigan Mayor Abdullah Hammoud — a self-proclaimed foodie — is pushing for economic growth by building three grant-funded Peace Parks that will soon open their arms to food trucks.
Read more »
Pet food recall: Throw away this cat food ASAP that might be contaminatedMore than 1,300 pounds of cat food are being recalled due to Salmonella contamination
Read more »
Wildfires Pose Threat to Food Safety: Smoke, Chemicals, and Heat Contaminate Food SuppliesWildfires, like those ravaging Los Angeles, create a serious risk to food safety. Smoke plumes carrying harmful pollutants can infiltrate food packaging, while heat and firefighting chemicals contaminate food and surfaces.
Read more »
Nobel and World Food Prize Laureates Issue Urgent Call to Action on Global Food CrisisNobel and World Food Prize laureates issue a stark warning about the impending global food crisis, urging for increased research funding and innovative food distribution strategies to avert a looming humanitarian catastrophe.
Read more »