Egg rolls, tacos, hot dogs. Immigrants were encouraged to assimilate American culture and food as quickly as possible. But that began to change in the late 20th century, particularly in the 1970s, when interest and pride in pre-American heritage or ethnicity went mainstream. People began to see food as a way re-connect with their immigrant ancestors. They couldn't speak the language or wear the clothes of their former homelands, but they could eat the foods.
Food offers immigrants a way to maintain and pass along cultural traditions to the next generation.
Food is a common way for parents to remind children of their roots, and often it is through family meals and communal food preparation that families support each other during the stress of adjusting to American life. Food serves as a symbol of community for immigrants to the United States, and provides a way for people who have grown up in America to remember and reconnect with the traditions of their ancestors. Inc. All Rights Reserved.