🛠️ Chapter 4: Relevance to Practice

34 4.10: Systemic Barriers in the Food System

Case #8: Culturally Appropriate Food

“There’s no culture without food”- Kishon Wamington

Culturally Appropriate Food is vital for promoting the health and well-being of communities, particularly within the Black community. It refers to food that aligns with cultural traditions, practices, and nutritional needs, ensuring that individuals have access to diets that support their health and heritage. This topic also intersects with discussions about the nutrient density of foods, which can decline as food travels long distances from its source. Local farming and community engagement in growing culturally relevant foods are essential for maintaining the nutritional quality of diets and supporting health equity.

Video 4.11: Founder of Back to Roots Farms Ltd., Kishon Warmington from Manitoba, discusses the importance of culturally appropriate foods for the health of the Black community. Kishon emphasizes how local farming and culturally aligned practices can support better health outcomes and food sovereignty.

Logo for Back to Roots Farm Ltd.

Keywords: Culturally Appropriate Food

Stop and Reflect

  1. Many Black people from settler, immigrant, and forced-migration backgrounds can only access cultural foods by buying imported ingredients.  Take time to briefly explore how the nutrient density of foods decreases over time, especially for exported foods.  If a community’s primary food choices lose significant nutrients before the food arrives at their homes, what impact can this have on their health?
  2. Beyond social equity, may there be additional value in Black farmers growing cultural foods locally?

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Supportive Readings:

Marrero, A., Tamez, M., Rodríguez-Orengo, J. F., & Mattei, J. (2021). The association between purchasing locally produced food and diet quality among adults in Puerto Rico. Public Health Nutrition, 24(13), 4177–4186.

Food Sovereignty

Food sovereignty is a crucial issue that intersects with empowerment, institutionalized racism, and culturally appropriate food practices. It involves ensuring that all individuals have reliable access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs. For Black Canadian farmers, challenges such as gatekeeping, biases, and institutionalized racism can hinder their ability to contribute effectively to the food system and support the nutrition of Black Canadians. Addressing these challenges is essential for improving food security and fostering self-determination within the community.

Video 4.12: Founder of the Canadian Black Farmers Association and the Founder and Executive Director of the Kara-Kata Afrobeat Society of Canada, Toyin Kayo-Ajayi, British Columbia, shares some of the challenges he has faced as a Black Canadian farmer. He discusses his innovative approaches to improving food security and his advocacy for Black food sovereignty.

Logo for Kara-Kata Afrobeat Society Logo for the Canadian Black Farmer's Association

Keywords: Biases, Community Empowerment, Culturally appropriate food, Empowerment, Food security, Gatekeeping, Institutionalized Racism, Norm

Stop and Reflect

  1. Some may wonder, “Why can’t Black people just eat what others eat?” What harm is done when we question and ask Black folks to provide proof of their oppression? Are complaints from the community accepted as adequate evidence?
  2. Whether or not you agree with Toyin’s views on nutrition or strategies for addressing systemic change, many Black people share similar values and beliefs. What are some ways you can learn from, respect, and empower Black people and communities so that they can practice self-determination regardless of your stance?

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License

An Introduction to Anti-Black Racism in Canadian Nutrition, Food & Dietetics Copyright © 2026 by Mikahelia Wellington; Sherana Syed; and Emanuel Tessema. All Rights Reserved.

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