Kiss Me! I’m (almost) Irish.
March 9, 2009
Did you know? Children who eat family dinners are more
likely to stay in touch with their families' ethnic and national backgrounds.
Miriam O’Weinstein here, wishing you Erin go Brah,
or some variation. St. Patrick’s Day, when everyone
can access their inner shamrock, reminds us of the value
of staying in touch with our cultural background.
Even though we Americans pride ourselves on being a melting pot,
it takes many tasty and varied ingredients to produce that rich stew.
It’s no accident that, when we talk about our heritage,
we use a culinary metaphor. Long after we have forgotten our
grandparents’ language and customs, we remember, and enjoy,
their native foods.
When we eat family meals, we are more likely
to serve the Old Country specialties, which lead
to talk about where we have come from, which helps
us better understand where we are. The dishes we
eat may be simplified, but ethnic favorites
like empanadas, blintzes, corned beef and cabbage, or spaghetti with gravy,
warm our hearts even as they fill our stomachs.
As the O'Weinstein clan always says:
May the outside leaves of your cabbage always be safe from worms!
Mealtimes Matter Video
from Miriam Weinstein
About Miriam
Miriam Weinstein is an award-winning documentary filmmaker. As a journalist, she has won several awards from the New England Press Association. Her work has appeared in Boston Magazine, the Boston Globe magazine, Hope, and ParentSource. A former staff member for North Shore Weeklies and freelancer for Essex County Newspapers, she writes restaurant reviews and food columns as well as features on a wide variety of subjects. She lives in Gloucester, Massachusetts, with her husband and has two grown children.
The Surprising Power of Family Meals
In her book, The Surprising Power of Family Meals, Miriam Weinstein shows how this basic human institution helps nourish and strengthen our families today. You can buy this book from our friends at Smucker's® Online Store.
