Introduction
Howdy, my fellow whole grains,
My name is Alen Agaronov and I hail from South Brooklyn, New York, one of the capitals of the world for Russian-speaking immigrants.
If there is anything that living here has taught me, it is that one should do what one knows best. Each and every person occupying a small community should seek out their own niche. While it may have taken me countless years to understand that my passion lies in Nutrition, I am still only beginning to understand that I should model my interest around my own personal background. For this same reason, I begin this blog by describing my slow transition from interest in medicine, to food (arguably the best medicine), and finally to community nutrition.
Upon arriving to the U.S., many Russian immigrants were introduced to the American culture of eating, or lack of. Since most immigrants coming from the U.S.S.R. were used to spending hours upon hours preparing and cooking meals, the culture-shock of American convenience food was easily absorbed. This led many immigrants to abandon their old eating traditions, leading to a growing population suffering from diet-related medical complications, with obesity and diabetes ranking on top. Recently, many have been taking advantage of this epidemic by targeting their careers to medicine, but it took a few years longer for people to point the finger at food.
A healthy diet wasn’t something emphasized by immigrants upon arrival to the U.S. I personally find it difficult to remember a time when my own parents cautioned me from eating unhealthy foods – as long as there was food in the fridge then that was all that mattered. This blog is meant to change this incorrect notion.
I was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, a satellite nation formed from the breakup of the Soviet Union, located in the region many refer to as “Eurasia.” I have always felt that the best diet is one backed by culture, so after spending countless years transitioning to the U.S. food model, I finally began to push my family to move back to their old, traditional recipes. After conquering my mission at home, I feel it is my duty to share these same recipes with the blogging community. These meals may require more time and effort, but without such barriers, our food will lack a story, and hence, lack significance. And is our health not significant? Eurasian cuisine is ideal for those looking for healthy, flavorful dishes that require few ingredients. The trick is to choose these ingredients wisely – picking the freshest vegetables, buying the leanest meats, and often substituting certain ingredients with healthier and easier alternatives.
Most importantly, I am a Nutrition Editor at FOODPICKER.ORG – a website designed
to help people with diabetes. After my own family members were struck with pre-diabetes, it became my responsibility to educate them on the constituents of a proper diet. Together with traditional, Eurasian cuisine, this blog will serve to provide traditional recipes and answer questions regarding diabetes.
Please visit FOODPICKER.ORG for more information.
