Mainstream nutrition has vilified cultural foods, telling us to swap rice for quinoa and skip the plantains. But food is more than just calories—it’s tradition and culture. Diet culture has long dominated nutrition conversations, often at the expense of cultural foods and traditions. It tells us that certain foods are “bad” while others are “good,” creating unnecessary fear around meals that have been nourishing communities for generations. On a recent episode of the Diabetes Digital Podcast, we sat down with Dalina Soto, a fellow dietitian and the author of The Latina Anti-Diet, to talk about the importance of embracing cultural foods, challenging harmful nutrition myths, and reclaiming the joy of eating. Listen to the full episode here, or read about our conversation below.
Diet Culture Myths About Cultural Foods
Yes, it’s okay to eat white rice!
One of the most frustrating myths Dalina constantly debunks is the demonization of white rice. In nutrition school, we were taught that brown rice is the better option because it’s a whole grain, but as Dalina pointed out, this messaging ignores cultural context.
“Only 50% of your grains need to be whole grains,” she explained. “If you’re getting fiber from other sources, why does it matter if you eat white rice? White rice is a staple for so many communities around the world—it’s affordable, versatile, and absorbs flavor beautifully. Plus, you can add nutrition by pairing it with beans, vegetables, and proteins.”
Yet, despite this balanced perspective, she finds herself constantly battling people online who insist white rice is unhealthy. “I get the ick every day from people trying to fight me on white rice versus brown rice,” Dalina joked. “And what’s funny is that if a white nutritionist says the same thing, everyone eats it up. But when I say it, people are ready to argue.”
The Harm of Rigid Diet Rules
Beyond the white rice debate, Dalina spoke about the exhausting, never-ending rules diet culture imposes. “I see people meticulously weighing their food, counting every macro, eating the same boring meal every day. It’s exhausting,” she said. “For many people, it isolates them. They can’t enjoy meals with their families, they can’t be spontaneous, and they’re constantly stressed about their food choices.”
This is something we see a lot in the diabetes space as well—where the fear of carbs leads to people avoiding foods that bring them joy and connection. But as Dalina emphasized, “People need carbs! We need them for energy, for satisfaction, and for feeling good. It’s not about eliminating carbs—it’s about balance and nourishment.”
How to Add Sazón to Intuitive Eating
Intuitive eating is often presented as an alternative to diet culture, but Dalina pointed out that much of the conversation around intuitive eating has been dominated by a white perspective, leaving little room for cultural nuance.
“I made a chart in my book where I take each intuitive eating principle and show how to add sazón to it,” she said. “For example, the principle of ‘honoring your hunger’ is often framed as simply saying no when you’re full. But in many cultures, refusing food is deeply disrespectful. So instead, I help clients find ways to navigate those situations—like asking for a plate to take home or waiting until later to eat.”
Another major way diet culture harms people of color is through unrealistic beauty standards. “Even when we talk about moving away from being ‘skinny’ and toward being ‘strong,’ the image that gets pushed out the most is still one type of body—usually thin, white, and sculpted in a very specific way,” Dalina pointed out. “And when people of color challenge these beauty ideals, we’re often dismissed.”
This also plays into how people approach fitness and food. “People think they can eat or exercise their way into a certain body shape, but genetics play a huge role. I always ask my clients, ‘Do you really want to live a life where you’re micromanaging every bite, never eating the foods you love, just to fit into a mold that wasn’t designed for you in the first place?'”
And let’s not forget about the problematic history of BMI…
BMI is another tool that has historically been used to police bodies, especially in communities of color. “BMI is not an indicator of self-worth, and honestly, it’s not even a great indicator of health,” Dalina explained. “But unfortunately, we live in a world where insurance companies require that number. So instead of pretending it doesn’t exist, I focus on helping clients navigate the system in ways that protect their mental and physical well-being.”
Some of her tips? Ask to be weighed blindly at the doctor’s office, request that your weight be removed from visit summaries, and, if possible, find healthcare providers who understand the flaws in BMI and don’t base their entire treatment plan on it.
At the end of the day, we should make peace with food.
Ultimately, the goal isn’t to follow another set of rules—it’s to build a relationship with food that feels nourishing, enjoyable, and sustainable. “People get so caught up in making their meals ‘perfect’ that they forget to actually enjoy eating,” Dalina said. “But food is meant to be joyful!”
Her advice? Embrace the foods you love, let go of the guilt, and focus on the bigger picture—your overall health and happiness, not just what’s on your plate.
Get Dalina’s Book, The Latina Anti-Diet
Dalina’s new book, The Latina Anti-Diet, is a must-read for anyone looking to break free from diet culture and reclaim their cultural foods. You can find it here. And if you haven’t already, listen to our full conversation on the Diabetes Digital Podcast for even more insights and laughs along the way.
Transcript
Reclaiming cultural foods with Dalina Soto
Diabetes Digital Podcast by Food Heaven
0:00
Welcome back to another episode of the Diabetes Digital Podcast.
Today we have a really special guest.
She is a fellow dietitian and one of our friends, Delina Soto.
Delina is a dietitian, a first generation Dominican American who has made it her life’s mission to confront diet culture and encourage everyone to incorporate flavor and culture into their diets.
0:24
Welcome to the Diabetes Digital Podcast.
I’m Wendy.
And I’m Jess, and we’re best friends, registered dietitians and diabetes educators.
Through our telehealth platform, Diabetes digital.co, we offer accessible and personalized virtual nutrition counseling for people with diabetes and pre diabetes.
0:41
Visit diabetesdigital.co that’s Co to book your first appointment.
We accept insurance and offer affordable self pay options.
Now let’s get into today’s episode.
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0:58
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1:50
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2:07
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2:31
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2:47
That’s Hero HE ro.co.co.
Now on to the episode, Delina has a new book that was actually just released yesterday, so make sure to get it.
It’s called the Latina Anti Diet and in the book she educates us on the health benefits of all her favorite cultural foods including arroz abituelas and platinos.
3:09
Well, I wonder when you should read this.
This is where I hop in and I do YouTube.
I’m like add rolls I’ll be duelist and platinum.
It sounds so gringo.
You have to leave this in here.
This is amazing.
OK, sweetie, which are often left out of the nutrition conversation.
3:31
We actually had Selena on the Food Heaven podcast a while back and we were talking about Wellness pyramid schemes and it was, it’s actually a really funny episode.
We’ll add it in the show notes.
And today we’re going to have a conversation with Delina about the ways diet culture has specifically harmed communities of color and why intuitive eating needs cultural nuance and how we can break free from restrictive food narratives while still honoring our help.
3:56
Welcome to the podcast, Delina.
Welcome.
Blop blop blop.
Right, Delina, it’s so great to have you again.
It’s been a minute, so it’s nice to catch up.
But also we have loved seeing everything that you’ve been up to.
4:14
And I was really excited about your book because I feel like a lot of the books that are out there addressing dieting culture are from a very white lens.
So I love that you incorporated your culture into this.
And yeah, it’s just like a very great episode to have because our listeners are from diverse backgrounds and we get a lot of questions about how can you incorporate your cultural foods while having conditions like pre diabetes, diabetes.
4:44
And you address a lot of the myths, the misconceptions around Latino foods.
What are some of the biggest ones that you have seen lately?
I know that there’s so many.
What are some of the ones that have given you the ick as the kids are calling it the ick?
5:03
I think I get the ick everyday because people are constantly fighting me about white rice versus brown rice.
I mean, I just don’t know.
How to not fight people anymore?
Like I’m so tired.
It’s disgusting.
So it’s exhausting because I think the funniest part is that like, if someone else says it, people are eating it up.
5:23
Like if somebody writes in an article and they don’t look like us, it’s like, yes, Queen, you know?
But the minute I say something on TikTok, well I can’t anymore because I deleted the app and I can’t.
Get back.
Oh, you did.
I did.
It was gone and then I was like, oops.
So you literally deleted your whole account.
5:41
No the account was not deleted but OK just so I can’t re download it.
Yeah I can’t re download the app though.
Because of the.
Oh my gosh, yeah.
Oh my gosh.
But I can’t fight people on Instagram and I am always fighting people on Instagram.
So tell us about this myth like because you said the white, right?
5:58
I mean, I know because I feel like we even quoted you on our podcast before about the rice.
But tell us like for people who haven’t seen your page.
Yeah.
So I think that right, everybody.
Well, for the three of us, we know that we went to school and it was always like whole grains, whole grains, whole grains.
6:14
And you know, brown rice is the whole grain.
So we were always taught you want to encourage people to eat whole grains.
So we should encourage people to substitute white rice with brown rice.
But I think that that often gets so misinterpreted because as we know, only 50% of your grains have to be whole grain, right?
6:33
So if you’re eating whole grains from many other sources, there’s so many sources of whole grains.
What’s going to hurt if you keep the white rice?
It’s not.
And you can add so much nutrition.
And I’m always like, it’s a great vehicle to add nutrition because it absorbs so much flavor.
6:49
And you can add so much protein.
You can add so much fiber to it.
So if it’s going to taste better, why can’t we just acknowledge that it’s superior, at least in my lens, and that we should be promoting it as a, as a staple, especially because the global S, the majority of the global S eats white rice.
7:09
So why are we asking millions of people to switch over to brown rice when?
Right.
Yeah, it’s not really.
Yeah.
Right, we need to have my husband listen because I’m always buying white rice and he’s always saying no get me the wild rice, get me the brown rice or I want the wild rice or whatever.
7:30
And I’m like bro it’s literally the same for the most part.
Like I think it’s a difference of is it 1 gram of fiber extra in the brown or it?
Depends.
Yeah, it depends, you know, because I’ve worked with, I’m working with USA Rice and the differences are very minimal.
7:46
Yeah.
Some of them have a little bit bigger of a difference, obviously because of the grain.
But if you think about it, the average is like 1 to 2G different.
But I’m always like, if you’re adding beans, if you’re adding veggies, right, one, you’re adding fiber and two, you’re adding more nutrients.
8:02
Yeah.
So why are we fighting?
Yeah, right.
Not that serious.
That is the question.
It’s not that serious.
So when you say OK, sorry, I’m just like back to the fighting ’cause I’m like so fascinated by this like TikTok culture.
8:19
Like what are people doing?
Are they DM ING you like you’re wrong?
Like what is it?
Let me tell.
You and I, like you should die because you like pretty much Oh my gosh, I.
Mean I’ve I’ve gotten very similar things to that, but there was one post that I did.
8:36
I must have been a few months ago or definitely last year, but I reshared it a few months ago.
This one lady was like my dietitian.
She just said my dietitian.
She said my nutritionist will take you to the mat.
I live in Texas and Mexicans are dying.
8:52
Hispanics are dying and it’s because of their white rice.
And she like went off on me.
Oh.
My.
God basically telling me that the reason why people are dying is because of white rice.
And I was like, not social determinants of health, not access to healthcare.
9:09
So you’re telling me what race is the issue?
And she was just like went off on me and like, people are always going off in those ways, right?
Because there’s a lot of stereotypes, there’s a lot of racism that’s involved in a lot of it.
And so people just get on this high horse of like, well, why does it matter?
9:25
I’m like, it doesn’t matter if you want to eat brown rice, please.
If your husband wants to eat wild rice, I love that for him.
But don’t tell me I have to eat it.
And don’t tell my clients or my patients who absolutely don’t like brown rice that they can’t, that they have to substitute it because our meals don’t taste the same with brown rice.
9:42
I don’t care how much you try to sell me the idea.
But Wendy, you know what?
Locrio is not going to taste the same.
Yeah.
With brown rice, I mean, it’s like to be honest, I just, again, it’s just not that I like do whatever you want.
I can care less as a dietitian as your diet because like you said, there’s so many ways to balance out your plate.
10:04
And I like both.
I like white rice and I like brown rice.
And it just honestly depends on the dish.
Like I feel like some dishes taste better when they have like a little bit more fibre in it, like depending on the texture that you’re going for.
And then for some dishes, I’m like, OK, yeah, like this definitely tastes better with white rice.
10:23
I feel like, And this goes for any foods, like once you start becoming so hardcore about what you believe in, it’s like, how is this affecting your mental health and your relationship around these foods when you’re just like, no.
And you have the time to like go on TikTok and yeah, yeah, just.
10:45
Yell at people, right, Who’s just in their own lane, talking to their own community, Yeah.
Sounds like a lot.
And it’s rice.
Yeah, Like it’s really not that serious.
And also, let’s just be thankful that we have access to white rice, brown rice, whatever it is.
11:03
And like, I feel like part of it is the demonizing of carbohydrates too, which I’m getting really sick of, especially us, because we work now in the more so diabetes space, impaired fasting glucose base.
And it’s just all of the information online, not all of it, but a lot of it is very much like no carb, no, nothing, no this, no that.
11:26
Like white rice, brown rice, no cauliflower rice.
Oh.
OK.
I’m sorry on that.
Yeah, you’re gonna be hungry.
And it’s like we people, we need carbs, like to feel good, to fuel.
So anyways, OK, and I want you to take on this.
11:45
How do you feel like diet culture and in particular white beauty standards have harmed BIPOP communities, Latinx communities?
And what made you kind of realize this, as well as the importance of reclaiming our cultural foods?
12:01
Oh.
God, such a loaded.
Question.
I know it’s not like, oops, that’s three.
Questions.
I’m like it took like 3 chapters for me to answer this in my book.
Take the time all the time, you know.
No, I think that if we think about even if we like bring it back to like TikTok or we bring it back to like social media, I feel like a lot of it has now gone to like we want to be strong.
12:26
We don’t want to be skinny.
But then who is being promoted as like these strong, you know, gym rats or like these women or like, what does the algorithm like, right?
I mean, I think we’re we’re talking about in today’s times, right?
The algorithm loves that.
And we’ve seen a lot of people, you know, say like when I lighten the camera or like when I use filters and change my features, right?
12:49
Like their stuff is pushed more into the algorithm.
And I think that even that just shows you that like, we’ve created a world where like certain looks and certain features get pushed out more.
And then the people that don’t look like that or don’t fit that mold, we get left thinking like, oh, should we change ourselves?
13:09
Like, should I go into like these extreme diets?
Should I like go into these like extreme, go to the extreme and do like plastic surgery, change my nose, do this, do that which we see all the time, right?
And I think that that’s pretty much what starts it, right?
This idea that like we have to look a certain way in order to be accepted by society.
13:29
And then in turn, we know that people assume that one way to fix our body or control our body is with food, right?
So they’re going to start changing the way that they eat so that they can look a certain way.
And so all of that just snowballs into everything that we see every day.
13:50
And unfortunately, our foods are loaded with carbs.
A lot of them are complex carbs too.
Like they’re not, you know, just simple carbs.
And even if they are simple carbs, we’re adding so much to it.
We’re creating these amazing dishes.
But because we can’t put it into My Fitness Pal as these like separate meals, people are like, well, I can’t have that, right?
14:14
Because you don’t even know what’s in it or you can’t separate it.
You can’t count macros.
You can’t do this.
So I think out of simplicity, people just go, alright, I’ll just have brown rice, broccoli and grilled chicken, and I’ll just live off of that.
And I’m like, that’s a sad life.
Yeah.
14:30
It gets boring.
Yeah, it makes it feel so simple and.
But yeah, it makes it feel so simple and boring.
And it’s interesting because, like, our dishes aren’t a lot of them are simple, but they’re not really boring.
Yeah.
Even the ones that are really, really simple, there’s so much complexity to them.
14:50
And it’s in every culture, right?
But I think that diet culture has made everything to be so individualistic, right?
Does how a lot of things in this world are.
So we’re looking at all these ingredients individually instead of looking at things as a meal.
15:06
Yeah.
Oh, that’s a really good point.
Yeah.
Because I do feel like so many foods from different cultures, yeah, You can’t put them into My Fitness Pal.
And they are very much like kind of mixed together with a lot of flavors, spices, herbs, things like that.
15:23
And so it makes it sauces.
Yeah.
That’s a really good point.
Meanwhile, diet culture is like, you need to have 1/4 cup of this, 1/4 cup of that.
Yeah, only salt.
And pepper.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
It’s not making fun of them, it’s just that it makes it, it very much feels very simplistic, very doable.
15:44
But we know that like, we need to have that pleasure, we need to have that satisfaction with food.
So when you’re eating like that constantly, it takes a toll.
What have you seen like with your because I know you work with clients.
Yeah.
What is like the toll that it can take on people that you have seen, especially people coming from different cultures or not even different.
16:07
I hate the word different but just like non white cultures.
What is that toll that it takes that you see?
I mean, can, I’m not going to bring up somebody that I work with, but did y’all watch Love is Blind?
Which one?
No, it wasn’t the ultimatum.
16:23
No, the ultimatum.
Which one?
Which one?
Yeah, no.
Season we boycotted, you know.
Because my boy came out, he was like, oh I need to bring a scale because I need to count my macros and the I feel like I did see.
That yeah, yeah, yeah it.
Was it was like, what?
And I was like, yeah, that’s that’s exactly it.
16:40
Yeah, that’s what happens.
Yeah, Yeah, yeah.
No, we, we did watch that one, Wendy, right?
Oh.
It.
Did she’s like, is it?
He was like, so that was the.
One.
Was it the old tomato?
It was.
No, it was.
Was it the Yeah, it was the old tomato.
Yeah, was it?
It was the guy that we hate the.
16:58
Yeah, the guy with all of them.
What was his name?
They all have the little earrings.
They all have one.
Thing The black guy who was with the white girl?
Yeah, With Sandy.
With Sandy.
Yeah, I only what was his name like 1 episode or two episodes?
17:14
OK, I know who you’re talking about.
I was the cheeseman pop culture.
I know, yeah.
He is cancer.
What is it?
Jr.
Right.
Jr. was it?
Jr.
It was Jr.
I think it was Jr. anyway.
Yeah, but anyways, go ahead.
I do remember.
The latest people?
Yeah, and we all rolled our eyes.
17:30
Yeah, that whole.
She rolled her eyes.
That was cringy.
All of it.
What are we doing just cuz he was?
Also very much into white beauty standards cuz he was like, yeah, he was the one that was into the white girl, right?
And then he was like, yeah, yeah I’ve never had a white girl that sounds.
17:46
I’m like, Oh my God, I.
Just like free pass.
I can’t just bear calm.
His wife.
It was just, yeah, it was cringy.
Yeah, yeah.
I didn’t make it past like the second episode.
I was done.
How we all felt watching it.
18:03
That’s how we all feel when we hear that.
Right.
Yeah, like weighing your food.
It’s like, who has the time and what are we doing?
Yeah, totally.
And then like the prepping, and I get it, like we prep food, we all do that to make our life simpler.
But like if you’re making the same meal to count the macros, to buy everything, to put it in containers, to then put it in your fridge and only eat that for the whole week.
18:27
Like it takes a toll because you can’t be spontaneous, you can’t go out with friends, you can’t live your life.
Like everything has to be so controlled and micromanaged.
It’s too much for me.
If you love it, I love that for you.
But.
18:44
Yeah, it’s.
Not very sustainable, for it’s not sustainable and not with our foods.
Yeah.
And not like with our cultural foods, right.
Like, again, we don’t make things separately.
So for us to like prep and things like that and listen, I’ve seen accounts that try to do it, but it’s like I feel like it takes the joy out of.
19:03
It.
Yeah, there’s so many accounts now that try to do it from like a cultural lens and I’m like, it still feels very off.
Yeah, exactly.
Yeah, I guess I mean, the alternative based on like what a lot of dietitians would take the alternate route, I guess, would be intuitive eating and also health at every size, which we’re big supporters of.
19:24
But as you know, it is a very white space.
Like people who talk about intuitive eating, health at every size are thin, usually very white.
There’s not a lot of cultural nuance there.
And so that’s definitely something that we’ve struggled with, just like presenting intuitive eating, but making it accessible to Black and brown people and filling in the gaps.
19:50
So can you tell us about, I mean, maybe you addressed this in your book, but just like how can you incorporate intuitive eating in a way that’s culturally relevant to whoever is listening?
And incorporating some of those principles like honoring your hunger and you know all of that, but also taking into account that that doesn’t mean that you have to eat a certain way that doesn’t align with who you.
20:12
Are yes.
So I have a whole chapter on intuitive eating and it’s funny because I made like this whole chart and I was like intuitive eating principle, what it means and then how you add Sasson to it.
That’s fun.
I like.
20:28
That because I feel like, again, the principles by itself seem very great.
And I think that the biggest thing that I talk about in the book is how it it’s been taken and turned into another diet, right?
I think we can all agree that when we all found it, we were like, yes, this is amazing.
20:44
And then because of our own lived experience, we had to take a step back and we had to be like, wait, but is it really that great if like we can’t apply it to people of our communities in the same way?
And another thing is, is like people are so ride or die for it.
21:00
Like you can’t say 1 bad thing about intuitive eating if you don’t, if people will come out the woodwork and it’s like now you’re taking it as a cult and it’s crazy because you’re using it as dogma.
And that is literally another side of right, literally the same coin, a different side of diet culture.
21:17
So if we can’t take it and critique it, that’s a problem.
Yeah, especially when people of color are critiquing it.
And then you’re, like, talking down to us about it.
So I think the principles can be used, but like, they don’t have to be like, you have to follow all the steps all the time, every single day.
21:38
Like, you know, you have to check off these boxes.
You have to be perfect about it.
Because a lot of the times that’s what it feels like when we see these accounts that are not talking about the nuance, that are not talking about the real issues of people not having access to food.
Like, how do you expect someone to honor their hunger when they don’t have access to food?
21:55
Yeah.
Right.
Like you, you can’t.
Like, so to me it’s like, yeah, we can talk about it.
We can discuss the principles, we can use it, we can educate.
But like they’re not the end all be all.
And we really need to talk about like meeting people where they are.
22:12
And it’s really hard when you’re asking them to follow a checklist.
Do you have an example of like an intuitive eating principle and then how you added a little bit more cultural nuance to that principle?
Yeah.
So I think one of the biggest ones is like when we were just talking about honoring your hunger, it’s always like, just say no.
22:35
You could just say no to food.
And I’m like, have you ever been to a home where like the abuela or the Thea or somebody has spent all day cooking and they’re just like bringing you food and food and food and food?
Like saying no is so frowned upon, not even from like, it’s such a cultural thing to say no to your elders too, right?
22:56
So you have to balance that.
And you also need to like, treat it in a way that’s not just like simply say no because we can’t, right?
So you have to really think about like, how can you have these conversations with the people in your family to say like, listen, I’m really full right now.
23:13
I ate before we came.
I am not hungry right now, but can you pack it up for me?
Or like, can we wait an hour or two?
Like can I just sit here and enjoy your company for a little bit and then I’ll eat your food, right?
But just flat out tell them something like, no, I’m not hungry.
That is so rude.
Yeah, that’s so rude.
23:31
And so like and not for and for us, even with like, you know, going to family parties, we’re not there for like just an hour or two.
I always laugh because I’m always invited to these kids birthday parties.
And you’re like in and out, in and out.
And then people come to my parties and I’m like, oh, yeah, you can come in and they’re like, what?
23:47
I’m like, yeah, we’re going to be here all day.
And they’re like, oh, this is not the type of party I’m used to.
And I’m like, well, I’m not having it at a bounce you or like at a place like we’re having it in our yard.
So you can come in, you can have food, you can chill, You Can Dance drink, right?
Like that’s how we party.
24:02
And so like this idea that like, you know, we have to rush everything doesn’t we don’t have to right.
So you’re allowed to say like, Hey, I ate a big meal before I came, right?
Like, can I just enjoy the party and come back and eat in a little bit, right.
24:19
That way you’re not making the person feel bad, but also you’re telling them like, I want to enjoy your food and I will later.
But like, having those conversations in real life is so much different than reading a principle in a book that just says just say no.
Yeah.
Like there’s so much nuance and culture and just like real life that’s missing just by you checking off a box on the checklist.
24:44
Yeah, 100%.
I’m so glad you bring that up.
That was actually our next question about just and many cultures, food is a love language and feeling no can be very disrespectful.
And I know that me and Wendy have both been talking about that a lot on this podcast and also personally have experienced that with like loved ones and or in laws and you’re going to eat over there to eat and then you already ate and how do you navigate that?
25:10
So I really love yeah, your thoughts and I agree that like typically when when you are hanging out with family, it is an all day affair, right?
And you there is opportunity for multiple meals, yeah, within one hangout, right, If it’s not a multi day affair.
25:28
So I love that language around like, oh, I just ate.
I’m not hungry or even planning around it, right, Like knowing that’s what we try to do somewhat now, especially when going to like my in laws house is yeah, like, OK, I’ll have something.
So I’m not starving because like, I don’t want to get anywhere starving.
25:45
But yeah, it is very, very rude to say no, I’m not hungry.
It’s like, why are you here?
Why did you eat before you came?
Yeah, like, why would you do that?
Right?
Yeah.
Food here.
Yeah, cuz some of these meals take days to prepare.
26:03
Yeah.
We also can’t turn down food offered to us to take home.
So it’s like buckets and buckets of food, which is like so sweet.
And we’re appreciative.
OK.
So that was very helpful.
I want to talk a little bit about BMI.
And I see you talk about this a lot on your page as well, just how BMI has been misused in medical spaces.
26:26
And I don’t know if you have anything to share on like kind of the problematic history of BMI and then like how from your perspective we can move that conversation towards overall well-being instead of weight?
I mean, I think that that’s such a tough question to ask us as dietitians because we don’t have the ability to change that.
26:47
And I think most people are like, well, what would you do differently?
And I’m like, I would treat people like humans.
That’s what I would do differently.
But like, I can’t really change the the way that it’s used.
I can’t change that.
Insurances need it for, you know, certain things like, you know, I think when I first started in this like intuitive eating health and every size world, it was so catchy to be like, you can say no to the scale.
27:12
You don’t have to weigh yourself.
And it’s like, but sometimes you do because your insurance won’t pay if they don’t get a number on the scale.
Yep.
So either you ask politely to be weighed blindly or you ask if you can give them a roundabout number.
27:30
But also if you’re having surgeries, certain medications, like they need to have a weight because that’s how they calculate the amount of medication that you’re going to take.
So I think that, again, so much of what we see on Instagram and so much of just in social media is so catchy and just like one way that you can do this.
27:46
And it’s like, but there’s so much nuance behind it.
And so it’s like, how do we help, you know, our clients have the tools to navigate these situations, right?
Like, can you call ahead and let them know?
Like I have this history of like eating disorder and I don’t feel comfortable with my weight.
28:03
Can we make sure that it’s completely taken off my chart that I don’t see it if I’m getting on the scale, I don’t want to look at it.
And can you white it out when you give me the papers, right?
Like you can ask and or you can bring someone with you to the doctor’s right to help you with all of this.
28:19
But I think that these are situations and, you know, conversations that we’re having with our clients that like, you can’t see, you know, in a social media post.
And when it comes to BMI, unfortunately, a lot of places have to have that number.
28:35
So it’s like either we just kind of like make peace with the fact that it means nothing and that it doesn’t make you a better or worse person depending on what number you are on that scale, and really just like let it go, which is very easy to say.
28:53
Yeah.
Right or try to find doctors right if you can that are not going to be all about that number.
I think that if you’re able to, you know, look for a healthcare provider that is more on the health and every size lens or at least understands that BMI is not the best indicator of health.
29:12
It just makes your life easier.
And I know that there was an article last year in the New York Times that most doctors were like, we got to get rid of it.
They’re trying to figure out like, what are we going to use?
And it’s like anything that we use as a measurement is going to be pretty.
29:28
Yeah, problematic in a way, because we’re always going to put people in these categories.
So for me, it’s like, how are we just going to view the person that’s in front of us and actually listen to them and listen to what’s bothering them, what’s hurting them, what ailment is happening.
29:43
And then we can, like, educate towards that or give medication towards that.
But I think, again, our medical system is so flawed.
I mean, it is what it is.
Yeah.
I don’t know.
That was a roundabout way to answer.
This.
Question no, that’s so helpful though, because you’re right.
29:59
I mean even us, you, we all take insurance and unfortunately they, they give the benefits based on BMI.
So we do have to collect that information.
And we say that, you know, on our forms, hey, we’re not using this to judge you in any way.
This is not important to us.
30:15
It’s just to get you the best benefits possible.
Most people are understanding, but for some it is still like triggering to even have to think, think about that information, that number.
But I think like what you’re saying makes sense is like, let’s work towards as much as we can, trying to make it like more of a neutral number where it’s like we need it for information here and there for dosing meds.
30:35
Yep, absolutely.
But like, it’s not an indicator of yourself worth or even your health.
Yeah, yeah.
It’s just a hard question.
Yeah, it’s very complicated.
And even beyond BMI, there’s just like body aesthetics, especially in black and brown communities.
30:51
It’s like even if you fit within what’s considered the normal BMI, there’s the pressure of being thick in all the right places or like having curves.
And it’s just like, and all of these beauty standards are so unrealistic and also like very damaging when it comes to one having a healthy relationship to food.
31:12
Because I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had family members like, oh, what can I eat to flatten out this part and thicken out the other part.
And I’m just like I don’t it doesn’t work like that.
I know it’s but it’s like the culture.
I know it’s.
31:28
It’s like our culture is so toxic, yeah.
Yeah, and that’s why a lot of work has to be done when it comes to really thinking about, like, what does a healthy relationship to food and my body look like because we get so many different messages that contradict each other.
31:49
So I’m wondering in your book and also in the work that you’ve done with clients, what are some ways that you help people connect to their cultural foods while keeping in mind these beauty standards and also like, people wanting to maybe achieve certain health goals that aren’t weight related.
32:08
Yeah, I think that.
I mean those are valid.
Goals for people.
I’m not going to be like, no, you can’t do that.
But I think we have to understand why.
And I think what I try to do in the book is really go through the history of a lot of the aesthetics, especially in the Latina community, and like why it happens to just kind of like have that background to understand.
32:30
And also, like you said, when people ask us these questions, I’m like, girl, I don’t know, it’s genetics.
Like, like, why do I look the way I look?
But then like my cousin who has the same grandparents and even though her parents are different, she looks completely different than me or like I don’t have a sister to like compare to.
32:46
But like my brothers and I are three different people.
We’re three different colors, we’re three different body types.
We have three different hair types and we have the same exact parents.
So like this idea that we can change the way that we look based on how we eat or like exercise sometimes I’m like, but to what end, right?
33:05
Like you can achieve that because we see it all the time.
People do it, but it’s like, what are they doing to get to that point?
Like do you really want to live a life where you’re never going to eat rice again?
Like, do you really want to live a life where like we were just talking about that person that was like weighing their food?
33:23
Like, do you really want to live a life where you have to micromanage every single thing you put in your body?
If that’s the life you want to live, love that for you.
But I know that’s not the life I want to live and that’s not the life a lot of people want to live.
So how do we make peace with the idea that like, not everybody we see on the street looks like the people we see on the Internet?
33:44
Like, it is very rare.
I don’t think I’ve ever met.
And, and I go to the gym, I don’t see anyone look like the people that I see on social media.
Yeah, it depends on the gym I feel like.
Depends on the city.
34:00
Yeah.
Yeah, the city.
Right, I guess at the middle of the house, because when I was like, what the hell.
And even actually, when I go to the gym in Dr. like it depends on the kind of gym, right, Because when I go to like the very exclusive gym, I’m like, Oh my God, I feel so out of place.
34:17
Like literally everyone has plastic surgery.
So and and but that’s not natural, right?
Of course.
But one thing that I’ve learned from that is that it’s important, important to keep that in mind when thinking about where you’re going to work out, right?
Because like, you don’t want to feel so uncomfortable when you’re surrounded by people that don’t look anything like you.
34:35
And it makes a huge difference.
Like I having all, all of this awareness, I feel the difference when I’m like, oh, OK.
Like the people that I’m surrounded by actually look normal.
Like their body, they have different bodies.
It’s like everyone doesn’t look the same.
34:51
It makes me feel more at ease and there’s less pressure on me when working out, you know?
Right.
Yeah.
And just Speaking of plastic surgery, I don’t know, the algorithm has got me effed up because, OK, so I’m getting fat.
35:08
All these plastic surgery videos, and it’s so funny because I had four of them to my friends I had watched.
That’s why you keep getting.
Fat.
I know, I know, I know, I know.
That’s why it’s like a cycle, ’cause I’m like, Oh my God, I can’t believe like Pedro Pascal had like a facelift or whatever.
Did he?
35:24
Well, that’s what they’re saying.
So what’s crazy is that every celebrity, even the ones where I’m like they didn’t have surgery, like Chloe or not.
Well, obviously Chloe, but like Kourtney Kardashian, they have all had so much plastic surgery because like, I think what’s why it’s feeding it to me is like I was watching a video on, you know how they have like on YouTube, like there’s two sets of people and it’s like pro plastic surgery or like not pro plastic surgery and they have a debate about it.
35:54
So I watched one of those.
It was like an hour and a half.
OK, good for you.
An hour and a half.
And then I think then it started feeding me it anyways.
So then I started getting in this plastic surgery loop where every single celebrity and like, I mean, young people, they call it like a ponytail facelift where you like, yeah, like the Bella Hadids.
36:14
And I’m like, you just snatched the face up.
And that to me was shocking because these are like everyone’s beauty standards.
And I’m thinking like, oh, these people, it’s all natural.
And it’s like, no, they’ve all had a ton of work done in that.
It’s actually really sad because.
36:29
You’re comparing all kind of look the same, too.
It’s like they do.
I’m like, they do all kind of look the same.
Yeah.
I’m like, is this Shakira is a Beyoncé?
Like, I don’t know.
Yeah, it’s very confusing.
It’s just crazy because it’s also very, I don’t want to say affordable, but like it’s a lot of people can now get it too, right.
36:49
So it’s not just celebrities getting, I mean one who knows, you can go to Dr. and get anything nowadays.
But it’s like, again, I’m not, I’m not going to sit here and judge anybody.
If that’s what you want to do.
That’s.
What you do exactly?
But I think that, you know, again, if if you’re going to be doing those things, I think it’s first you have to like have a good relationship with your body.
37:12
Because as we know, people continue to go back and get more and get more and get more to try to meet the standard.
It’s not enough.
And it’s like to what end?
I think to me, it’s always like, to what end?
Like when is it going to be enough?
And again, if you want to keep going, that’s cool.
37:29
But like a lot of people I think want to eat and work out again to have a body type that is not naturally created.
It’s usually created by plastic surgery.
So I’m like and just just go get the surgery.
Just get the surgery, yeah.
I’m going to.
Do that right?
37:46
And that’s my thing.
It’s like I whatever people want to do, truly, I don’t want to judge anybody because I myself have had plastic surgery in the form of breast reduction.
So I can’t judge anybody.
It’s like whatever you feel like, it’s best for you and your body.
But my issue more so is for people who have had it to not be honest and just act like this is your natural beauty.
38:10
Because what I’m saying is like people are comparing themselves to you thinking that you’re like, I’m like, oh, yeah, Kourtney and Kardashian, She’s all natural.
It’s like, no, this girl’s had like a face slipped in this and not in this and a Chen implanted so.
More than me.
A girl, I’m an algorithm don’t get in there so.
38:31
It will be.
No, no, don’t, because they will feed you everything.
Yeah, they heard you.
They heard you.
So anyways, in wrapping, OK, one question I love to ask people is what are you eating right now?
Like what’s one of your favorite dishes?
38:47
Just to give people an idea to, you know, maybe share a little bit about your culture even.
I just literally had this before we came on.
So there’s the squiggly, the squiggly noodles.
So I’m obsessed.
My daughter’s obsessed.
She gets the regular ones, I get the spicy one.
We both just had it for lunch.
39:03
Oh yummy.
And I always add like veggies to it and like I had leftover chicken.
So I did leftover chicken and like like a Asian vegetable mix I added to it.
That’s my favorite because it’s 3.
Like you only have to boil them for like 3 minutes.
39:20
They cook so quickly, so it’s like a stir fry.
So that one’s my favorite.
And I will say my favorite quick cultural dish would be like the quickest thing I could think about is like rice with eggs and like avocado.
39:35
I feel like I ate that entirely way too much because one, I make rice for like multiple days.
So I just have to either scramble eggs or fry eggs and then, you know, the the avocado and then boom, done.
I love that.
You’ll scramble them sometimes and mix it with the rice and then put sliced avocados.
39:53
Or how do you no.
So you eat like I’ll eat the white rice and then the scrambled eggs.
I’ll add like onions and tomatoes and Peppers to it.
My mom adds tomato sauce to it.
So it’s like I think, is that considered like a Spanish?
Something Spanish eggs or something like that.
I feel like in some restaurants they call it that.
40:09
I don’t know, I grew up eating that all the time.
So you scramble the eggs with all the veggies and a little bit of tomato sauce and then you just pour it over the to the right rice and then you have avocado with it.
Oh my God that sounds so good.
And it’s so.
Easy.
It’s so easy.
But sometimes I’m like, oh, I don’t feel like chopping up the veggies.
40:29
Yeah.
That’s why they saw them chopped up.
I buy a lot of veggies chopped up.
Yeah, I I buy them chopped up.
I have no shame in my game.
But sometimes I go, sometimes I want like the runny eggs.
So like I’ll like fry an egg and leave it runny.
And then I’ll add the avocado is just, it’s a must.
40:46
Yeah, I feel like love it.
So that’s what I eat a lot, yeah.
That’s helpful.
Thanks, Talina.
Well, I mean, it was always, always a pleasure talking with you.
Love having you on.
Can you tell a listeners where they can connect with you, how they can learn more about your new book, where they can find you?
41:04
Yeah.
So all my handles are your Latina nutritionist.
Well if I ever get back on TikTok I will be there.
On the I GS and then my wife said is your Latina nutrition and the book is on there.
41:21
You could just do your Latina nutrition slash book and all of the places you can buy it will be there.
You can order your audible more audio book.
Amazing.
Very, very minimal.
I don’t.
I don’t want to be in all the places.
Yeah, I feel you all.
41:37
Right, everybody.
So make sure you get a copy of the book.
It’s called The Latina Anti Diet.
Get it wherever books are sold.
And again, thank you so much for joining us on the podcast, Delina.
Thank you.
Yay.
Thanks for joining us for today’s episode.
41:54
If you’re interested in nutrition counseling with one of our expert dietitians to help improve your pre diabetes or diabetes, visit us at diabetesdigital.co.
Also, if you found our conversation helpful, do us a favor and rate and review this podcast on iTunes, plus share with someone who might find this helpful.
42:13
You can also connect with us on Instagram at Diabetes Digital.
Co and TuneIn every Wednesday for practical, inclusive and culturally humble diabetes insights.
We’ll catch you later.
Bye.
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