| Healthy soul food continues to increase in favor of | | | | popular food for the soul, as it's affectionately called. |
| traditional recipes of the past. Because more African | | | | The southern breakfast, lunch and dinner industry |
| Americans look to change to a healthier diet, this | | | | rakes in hundreds of millions of dollars in sales each |
| favorite southern cuisine continues to adapt to the | | | | year. The industry continues to grow as healthier |
| demands of today's weight conscious consumer. | | | | marketing information and promotion goes out to the |
| Obesity continues to grow (pardon the pun) in | | | | public. The results continue to confirm more people are |
| America, especially in the Black community. That's the | | | | eating it up, to the delight of restaurant owners. |
| reason for the big push in changing the eating habits, | | | | African American chefs continue to include healthier |
| seasonings and cooking techniques used to prepare | | | | ingredients to meet the needs and demands of a |
| the meals. | | | | more health conscious consumer in cookbooks as well. |
| The threat of past menus filled with salt, fats, and | | | | Award winning and best selling titles occupy bookstore |
| other high risk ingredients, continues to give way to | | | | shelves across the country. |
| better ingredients for the health. | | | | This fast growing demand of health conscious |
| Soul food restaurants continue to experience growth | | | | consumers has birthed a new niche for vegetarians |
| especially in urban centers. For example, Atlanta, Dallas, | | | | who love the southern fare. This includes restaurants, |
| Washington, D.C, Detroit, New York City, Philadelphia, | | | | diners, and books. There's even a magazine that |
| Chicago and other cities with large African American | | | | caters to the African American Vegans out there who |
| populations. | | | | love the deep south cuisine - minus the meat, a market |
| The meals roots go all the way back to slavery. | | | | segment that continues to grow everyday. |
| Where items slave masters wouldn't or didn't eat, the | | | | You can find dozens of excellent sites where you can |
| slave consumed by necessity or convenience. As time | | | | find soul food recipes and books online. Many include |
| passed, more creative techniques of cooking and | | | | the history and other facts. Consumers continue to |
| preparing the meats and vegetables caused it to turn | | | | devour books, giving birth to an army of cookbook |
| into a favorite delicacy. | | | | celebrities. Many authors host cable T.V shows, start |
| Today these deep south recipes continue to grow in | | | | award wining southern cuisine restaurants, and offer |
| popularity for millions of African Americans and | | | | signature products such as barbecue sauce, |
| non-African Americans. Millions traditionally celebrate | | | | seasonings, and desserts to name a few. |
| holidays and other special occasions by eating this | | | | |