African American Diet

Vegetable okra is considered to be the food of Africa. Rice and seafood are also eaten. The common foods which find its roots in the African-American diet are black-eyed peas, benne seeds (sesame), eggplant, sorghum (a grain that produces sweet syrup and different types of flour), watermelon, and peanuts.

The southern food is specifically known as the ‘soul food’. The legacy of African and West Indian culture is seen in many recipes. The tradition of this African-American diet is still popular. The staple food of African Americans is rice.

Soul food includes

• Chitterlings (pronounced chitlins)
• Pork chops
• Fried porgies
• Potlikker
• Turnips
• Watermelon
• Black-eyed peas
• Grits
• Hoppin’ John
• Hushpuppies
• Okra
• Pancakes

Southern food of the African-American diet includes –

• Fried chicken
• Sweet potato pie
• Collard greens
• Barbecue

There is hardly any difference between the type of foods eaten by the whites and African Americans. Since the 1960s, there has been a wide change in the quality of diet of African Americans.

Cajun and Creole are also eaten by the Africans. There was a combination of various spices with the food items brought in by the Americans crawfish, shrimp, oysters, crabs, and pecans.



More on Diet...