Nutrition Education for

Addressing Health
Disparities
By Lily Brown, Jolie Stocker, Tre’ Montgomery, Lucas Peiro
Class: African Foodways and Health
12/06/2022
Staples and Transition of a
West African Diet
Tenets of a West
African Diet

● Vegetarian base
● Protein from plants; meat
occasionally
● Few animal products
● Whole foods; lack of
processed items, foods
high in fat & sugar
Transition to America

● Slavery – parts of the West African diet

were maintained
○ Vegetarian base, meat to enhance
flavor
○ Ingredients brought over from Africa
(okra, black eyed peas, yams, etc.)
○ Merge of African
foodstuffs/techniques with European
and Native American food
○ Food access was restricted, meals had
to be quick
Transition to America

● Emancipation & Reconstruction Era –

cooking styles developed on plantations
changed
○ Sharecroppers had limited access to food;
women lost access to resources they had on
plantations
○ Black landowners could be more self-sufficient
○ Technological advancement led to changes in
food practices (railroads, more movement of
people, refrigeration)
○ Expansion of foods in the African American diet
while still maintaining tradition
Transition to America
● Today – Americanization of African traditions
○ Major shift in dietary practices due to Agro-
Industrial Complex
■ Processed foods, GMOs, fast food
○ Structural racism causes food injustice
■ Redlining, food desserts, food swamps
■ Food insecurity
■ Disparities in healthcare
○ African Heritage Diet is not facilitated by these
discriminatory systems
■ Ingredients are inaccessible
■ Lack of education
■ US food system prioritizes profit, not health
Americanization of African
Cuisine: A Sampling
 Nigerian Jollof
Rice
Jollof Rice is a one-pan, West
African dish that originated from
Nigeria but is beloved by many
households South of the
Sahara. It is enjoyed at
everything from parties to
everyday family dinners and is
said to be a “unifying” dish.
 Charleston Red
Rice
Charleston Red Rice (a.k.a.
Carolina Red Rice) is a direct
descendant of Jollof Rice
created in Lowcountry. This one-
pan dish harnesses the Holy
Trinity of Cajun cooking as well
as Cajun seasonings.
 Ingredients
Jollof Rice Red Rice

Poblano peppers Bell peppers

Onions Hot Sauce
Hot pepper
Tomato Paste Cajun Seasoning
Curry powder (Nigerian-style)
Thyme Tomato Ground Cayenne
Bay Leaves Rice Parsley
Ginger Garlic Celery
Sugar
Stock
Bacon
Butter
Social Determinants of Health
and Their Impact
 What are Social Determinants of Health?

● Social determinants of health

(SDOH) are the conditions in
the environments where
people are born, live, learn,
work, play, worship, and age
that affect a wide range of
health, functioning, and quality-
of-life outcomes and risks.
What are the most impactful SDoH?

1. Economic Stability
a. Poverty, income, and job opportunities.
1. Education Access and Quality
2. Health Care Access and Quality
3. Built Environment
a. Safe housing, transportation, neighborhoods,
access to nutritious foods, and Polluted air and
water.
1. Social and Community Context
a. Racism, discrimination, and violence
Specific Interventions
Interventions: Socio Ecological Model (SEM)
● Public Policy
○ Mandate that healthy food grocery
stores/markets be within every district.
○ Regulating the number of fast-food restaurants.
● Neighborhood/Community
○ Nutrition education in public schools.
○ African-based horticulture classes in public
schools.
○ Holistic health education at religious centers.
● Neighborhood Environment
○ Community garden.
○ African culinary classes at local food kitchens.
● Interpersonal
○ Online African food and health forum.
○ Neighborhood African heritage diet group.
● Intrapersonal
○ Adopting a healthier and traditional african diet.
○ Cutting out unhealthy food from diet.
Bibliograpy

● https://food52.com/recipes/61557-classic-nigerian-jollof-rice
● https://www.theseasonedmom.com/red-rice/
● https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021961-charleston-red-rice
● https://evseats.com/how-to-make-jollof-rice-in-5-easy-steps/
● https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health
● https://uc.instructure.com/courses/1566574/files/157530675?wrap=1
● https://uc.instructure.com/courses/1566574/files/161350743?wrap=1
● https://uc.instructure.com/courses/1566574/files/161350691?wrap=1