Why I Talk About Food: Black Women, Our Health Is on the Table

I get asked a lot why so much of my work focuses on nutrition. The answer is simple: food matters but changing the way we eat isn't always simple.

Choosing one food over another may seem like an easy decision, but nutrition is incredibly nuanced. What we eat can be influenced by affordability, access to healthy foods, time, culture, family traditions, convenience, knowledge, and even the responsibilities we carry every day.

This is especially important when I think about the health of Black and African American women. Approximately 4 out of 5 Black women in the United States are affected by overweight or obesity, highlighting a significant health disparity. But statistics like these don't exist in isolation. Our health is shaped by the environments we live in, the resources available to us, our responsibilities, and the opportunities we have to make healthy choices.

So, when I think about how we can make a meaningful difference, one area I continue to come back to is food.

Food, Family, and Culture

Many Black women wear multiple hats from professional, mother, caregiver, partner, community leader, and, in many households, the person responsible for making sure everyone is fed.

If you're like me and grew up in the South, being "well fed" might bring to mind a table filled with pork chops, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, vegetables, cornbread, and enough food to make sure nobody leaves hungry. Food is more than nutrition. It's culture, tradition, comfort, connection, and love.

Today, however, many families simply don't have the time to prepare large home-cooked meals regularly. Between working, caring for children or family members, managing a household, and handling everything else life brings, preparing nutritious meals every day can feel like another task on an already long list.

That's where convenience comes in.

Fast food, takeout, delivery, frozen meals, and other quick options may become part of the weekly routine and not necessarily because people don't care about their health, but because these choices fit the realities of their lives.

And this is exactly where I believe better nutrition education can make a difference.

Healthy Eating Has to Work in Real Life

We need to move beyond simply telling people to "eat healthier."

We need to teach people how.

How do you make a healthier choice at a fast-food restaurant?

How do you build a balanced meal when you're short on time?

How can you grocery shop on a budget?

What are some healthier convenience foods?

How can you modify the foods you already love instead of completely giving them up?

These are practical questions, and people deserve practical answers.

Healthy eating doesn't have to mean preparing every meal from scratch, buying expensive specialty foods, or completely abandoning cultural foods. Small, realistic changes can help improve the nutritional quality of our meals while still allowing us to enjoy the foods that are meaningful to us.

Nutrition can also be an accessible place to begin making lifestyle changes. While finding additional time for structured exercise may be difficult for someone with an already packed schedule, food choices are decisions we make every day. Even small changes such as choosing water more often, adding vegetables to a meal, preparing food at home one additional day each week, watching portion sizes, or choosing a more balanced option when eating out can add up over time.

There is also a common misconception that healthier eating must be expensive. While cost and access are very real barriers for many families, healthy eating doesn't always require purchasing expensive foods. Learning how to plan meals, compare prices, reduce food waste, use frozen or canned produce, and make strategic grocery choices can support both health and the household budget.

So, Why Do I Talk So Much About Food?

I talk about food because food can make a difference.

I talk about food because it's something we all need.

I talk about food because the way we eat can influence our health.

I talk about food because it's connected to our families, cultures, traditions, and everyday lives.

Most importantly, I talk about food because I believe that when people have practical, evidence-based information that fits their real lives, they are better equipped to make choices that support their health and well-being.

The goal isn't perfection. It's helping people understand that healthier choices are possible even when you're busy, on a budget, eating out, caring for a family, or simply trying to figure out where to start.

Food is part of our story. Let's make it part of the solution, too.

Follow @shinepointhealth for practical strategies for healthier eating, sustainable behavior change, and everyday health and wellness.