| Free soul food recipes, with it’s tradition of | | | | as it adjust to new eating habits many teens are now |
| southern flavor and satisfaction, is making a comeback | | | | moving to. A healthier food that taste good. With |
| among African American teens. In the past this | | | | southern fried chicken, peach cobbler and sweet |
| traditional southern cuisine had fallen out of favor | | | | potato pie among the top 3 favorite foods among |
| with many teens thanks to the fast food movement, | | | | African American teens today. The industry have |
| the fact that people cooked less and because it was | | | | found creative ways to make these popular dishes |
| stylish to eat out. But now thanks to the recession, less | | | | healthier while maintaining the taste. |
| discretionary income and the need to save, more | | | | Another major influence on teens and soul food |
| teens are rediscovering soul food recipes all over | | | | recipes is the hip hop movement. For example, you |
| again. | | | | can hear many hip hop stars mentioning soul food in |
| Yes, thanks to the economic downturn more families | | | | their lyrics, showing it in their videos and eating it |
| are forced to cook and eat at home and more and | | | | themselves with great delight. These combination of |
| less at fast food establishments. In addition, the | | | | factors have joined to make soul food cooking and |
| movement and trend seems to be toward eating | | | | eating popular again with African American teens. |
| healthier, home cooked meals at the dinner table | | | | But a new market is looming on the horizon as well, |
| again. Family dinner time is slowly making a | | | | what is this new market? White and Latino teens are |
| comeback. All these factors seem to have fuel the | | | | slowly discovering soul food recipes, thanks again to |
| popularity of soul food recipes to teens again, much | | | | the hip hop industry. Many non-African American |
| like their baby boom parents and grandparents. | | | | consumers are joining. Some of the new converts are |
| For example, surprisingly many teens are tasting black | | | | joining out of curiosity, others out of a need to try |
| eye peas, candied yams and hush puppies for the first | | | | new experiences in food. But most are trying it |
| time. And those who aren’t tasting them for the | | | | because of African American friends introducing them |
| first time is seeing them and other traditional soul food | | | | to this popular southern cuisine. Could soul food |
| in a whole new light. | | | | cooking play a major role in uniting the cultural divide. |
| This cuisine is also growing in popularity among teens | | | | Stay tuned. |