Latino and a Vegan in Kern County

By Alfredo Camacho and Daniel Jimenez, South Kern Sol

While studying at Cal State, Chico, I adopted a vegan lifestyle to help me combat a health issue I was experiencing.  But ever since I came back to my hometown of Bakersfield, I have found it very hard to maintain my vegan diet living in this city.

The transition was at first difficult, given the way one is raised in a Latino culture to perceive food. Perhaps the most influential rule is one learned from early on in childhood.  Parents will admonish children with “no te paras hasta que termínes,” which translates to “you don’t leave the dinner table until you finish all your dinner.” This creates an internalized need to eat when you might not want, or even need, to finish whatever is on your plate.

Click HERE to read the full story.

[Photo by Daniel Jimenez/South Kern Sol]

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