Hi ,

If you've been following my contents for quite some time, you know that I always advocate for sustainable healthy eating with the use of local dishes and ingredients.

Recently, though, I realized that not all Filipinos see our own local cuisines the same way that I do. I learned that people’s sentiments about Filipino foods being unhealthy are VALID.

Filipino foods are frequently labeled as inherently unhealthy, being perceived as too fatty, oily, or carbohydrate-heavy.

• Our favorite dishes, like sisig, crispy pata or lechon, are often indulgent and associated with celebrations.
• Fast food, which has become a staple for many due to convenience, reinforces the notion that Filipino eating habits are unhealthy.
• Portions of rice can be overly generous, and dishes are sometimes cooked with excessive oil, salt, or sugar.

These factors make it easy to label the Filipino diet as inherently problematic.

As a dietitian, I have seen how these perceptions arise from genuine struggles and experiences of my clients/patients.

Many clients have shared how hard it is to balance tradition with health - choosing between the comfort of family meals and the pressure to meet modern health standards.

I empathize with this conflict because food is not just sustenance; it’s an emotional and cultural anchor.

This is why I started a SERIES about Filipino foods, the Filipino diet, and how we can pursue our health goals while staying true to our roots.

Let me just finish my nakakakilig na Sinigang and I'll send you another letter shortly.

Next topic:

How we have unconsciously learned to favor foreign foods and diets and undervalue our own traditional dishes.

Kain po,

Grace