Healthy soul food may seem like a oxymoron at fist glance, but this is one of the fastest growing cuisines in America. The history of soul food stretches all the way back to the Pre-civil war period. It’s one of the most popular cuisines originated in America. Originated in the south by slaves who were forced to eat what the masters or slave owners didn’t want to eat. By using creative cooking methods and seasonings many of the recipes have turned into culinary delights, especially in the south.

But one drawback to the rich, robust southern dishes have been the health issues. The traditional versuib involved using large amounts of salt, fat and calorie loading ingredients. While these made the taste irresistible, the health concerns continued to mount. And with today’s health conscious consumers, these problems could no longer be ignored. Now the healthy version is a fast growing solution to this growing consumer demand.

More soul food restaurants are starting to get the message and including healthier menus in their establishments. Most have eliminated animal fats in their cooking. Most have replaced traditional seasonings like fat back, ham hocks and bacon from their recipes. Still more have gone even further and have included salad bars in the restaurants, a move unheard of a few years ago. With these changes the industry hopes to attract more health conscious African Americans back to this southern comfort food. Many were forced to leave because of the health concerns associated with the traditional recipes of the past.

As the consumer demand grows, this movement is predicted to grow. The large food manufacturing companies are starting to get into the act and is expected to introduce packaged versions like frozen and canned, in the near future. Even they see the profit potential of this untapped market. More websites are springing up to catch this growing demand as well. All this new attention can only benefit the soul food recipe consumer – and that’s the healthiest idea of all.