Comfortable with Cooking (Let’s try it!)
Thinking about the library in different ways as they explore literacy beyond books
I have always wanted to be more comfortable with food at home. It’s difficult to try new things with food when you’re not the only one eating. If the family is not vibing with a new dish, then there goes an attempt with them trying anything with those ingredients. It sometimes gets to the point where the thought of dinner feels so tiring and I just want to get it over with. I don’t want that feeling to stick with me in life. I love the classic Mexican dishes my mom, my Abuellita, and my family have introduced me to. I love it when my mom has tried to make new dishes off of TikTok because she feels inspired.
Food can feel intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Even libraries are taking on the challenge.
Lara Ewen’s article (2018) from American Libraries magazine shows us that mobile kitchens run by libraries can serve as educational and engaging programming that goes beyond the sharing of library materials. The mobile kitchens run by Camden County (N.J.) Library System (CCLS) and Redwood City (CA) Public Library (RCPL) are amazing examples of members of the community coming together to share, learn, and create in a space welcome to discovery. Partnerships are what make programs like these thrive where local organizations, restaurants, and community members can join in to help the present needs of their community.
When it comes to the need to address food literacy, communities could be facing varying issues:
- Food deserts make it harder for families to access healthy foods
- Lower socio-economic communities have a harder time getting enough food
- Language barriers make food literacy (through labels and recipes) difficult
- With lack of access to ample healthy food, many may not know how to cook
It’s amazing to see these libraries take on this programming that takes a lot of money, effort, and manpower to function. I hope to see more communities that could truly benefit from this engaging program and consider it for their future community plans. On a smaller scale, libraries can work with these community partnerships to create virtual cooking videos that introduce people to different food and cultures while also featuring a local chef (CBC News, 2021).
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These issues centered around food and health are not easy and different people are facing different levels of need. However, libraries will continue to step up and simply do what they can with the community they serve. That extra helping hand from organizations and partnerships can make a difference for any starting program – with that in mind, I will continue to do what I can with my family to push for more healthy food options. My brother has been someone I can talk with about our small need at home, so I will continue to lean on him for that support.
Wish me luck on my food journey! (I really want to try tackling lasagna for Thanksgiving)
References
https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2018/09/04/movable-feast-library-mobile-kitchens/
One Comment
Michael Stephens
@alexis1barra I appreciate the personal slant to use for this post. I’ve done the same thing. I wanted to really try a new recipe and then have it maybe not go over as well as I would like. I’m also learning about incorporating more healthy options. It’s such a good thing, and I really agree with you that the library can play a role in that education piece.