My husband always asks me: What are the real holiday food traditions? According to him, the holiday meal is supposed to have a lot of meats, which have to be fried, or baked with butter, oil, and cheese. My holiday meal is simple: fresh vegetables, fruits, raw nuts. Delicious flavours that do not required any deep-frying or browning with oil or butter.

My diet is based on fresh fruits, vegetables, and legumes. I was slim and healthy growing up. I ate any fruits or vegetables that were available at my grandparents’ farm. My favourite drinks were young coconut water and sugar cane juice. At that time, I was so slim that my family members said I was suffering from malnutrition. They made me eat meat. I hid the meat at mealtime in my pocket or under the dinner table, but not too long after, my mother or the housekeeper discovered it. They ground the meat and mixed it with rice. I still separated it and left half of the portion of meat on my plate. The family doctor suggested that I have one hard boiled egg each day if I did not eat meat. I chose one quail egg over a chicken egg.

My parents could not change my eating habits, so they made me swallow vitamin pills. I choked every time. My parents requested that the doctor give me one vitamin needle per month. It took four adults to hold me down, and my leg went numb. My parents were tired of my stubbornness after two times of doing this. My grandparents stepped in. They did not force me to eat meat. They introduced some simple cooked fish and shrimp with my raw vegetables and I enjoyed it.

Recently, I spoke with several people in healthcare, the fire department, fitness instructors, and insurance companies. They recognize that my traditional cooking and eating habits fit with the healthy food trends now.

Recently, I spoke with several people in healthcare, the fire department, fitness instructors, and insurance companies. They recognize that my traditional cooking and eating habits fit with the healthy food trends now. With only one pot of boiling water I can create a flavourful steamed fish with onion, ginger, and soya bean, wrapped in banana leaves that my co-workers love. I also make a delicious coconut curry chicken with steamed rice in my cooking class.

I am proud to share food as a part of holiday love and to inspire others to get in the kitchen with their families this year. If you would like to join my cooking class at McCauley Centre on Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., please call (780) 423-1973 to register. Bring your favourite ingredients. I will share my spices with yours.