Department

It didn’t occur to me at age 4, as I sat in my grandparent’s tiny Brooklyn apartment kitchen, that the strange bits being tossed about my plate—varenyki smothered with smetana (sour cream)—told the story of a culture deeply permeated with history, land, and endurance.

Pulses are being reimagined in new and exciting ways across grocery shelves and restaurant menus, and have become a favorite ingredient on TikTok—from dense bean salads and brothy beans to bean dips and black bean brownies.

I’ve been a dietitian for over 16 years and a mom for 10, yet some mornings still feel impossible—getting everyone out the door for school, commuting to work, and ensuring the whole family starts the day with a nourishing meal. Sound familiar?

Caribbean cuisine is truly a bubbling melting pot—shaped by the cultural traditions of the indigenous populations of the islands combined with the influence of enslaved Africans and European colonists, including Spanish, British, French, and Dutch.

For some, reading nutrition facts can be like reading a new language. This is understandable since there’s a lot of information on packaged foods. Some individuals may also have trouble reading or seeing the nutrition facts, and it can be hard to understand the nutrient quality of packaged foods.