While reflecting on the two interventions, I read two books related to food culture, identity and memory to help me better understand my research topic. One of them is Tasting Food, Tasting Freedom: Excursions into Eating, Culture, and the Past by Sidney W. Mintz.

Key Themes and Concepts Relevant to Research on Youth Migration and Cultural Adaptation:

Food as a Cultural Anchor:

• Mintz emphasizes that food is a critical aspect of cultural identity, particularly for individuals who are displaced or living in new environments. For youth migrants, traditional food practices can serve as a powerful link to their home culture, helping them maintain a sense of identity and continuity amidst the challenges of adapting to a new city.
• The preparation and consumption of traditional dishes can evoke memories of home, family, and community, providing emotional comfort and reinforcing cultural ties in a foreign environment.

Food and Memory in Migration:

• Mintz highlights the strong connection between food and memory, suggesting that food serves as a medium through which migrants can reconnect with their past. For youth migrants within China, recreating traditional dishes from their home regions can trigger memories of their hometowns, fostering a sense of belonging even in an unfamiliar urban setting.
• This concept is particularly relevant to my research as it underscores how food practices can help youth migrants navigate the emotional challenges of migration by providing a tangible link to their cultural roots.

The Role of Food in Social Integration:

• According to Mintz, food is not only about personal identity but also plays a crucial role in social interaction and community building. For youth migrants, sharing traditional dishes with others can serve as a form of cultural exchange, allowing them to connect with new social groups while retaining their cultural identity.
• This aspect of food as a social connector aligns with the idea of using food culture as a bridge between home and new environments, helping youth migrants to integrate into their new surroundings without losing their sense of self.

Cultural Continuity and Change:

• Mintz discusses how food practices can persist even in the face of significant social and cultural change. For youth migrants, this persistence allows them to maintain a connection to their cultural heritage while adapting to new urban environments. However, Mintz also acknowledges that food practices can evolve as migrants interact with new cultures, leading to a blending of traditions that reflects their dual identities.
• This theme is directly relevant to my research, as the intervention explored how youth migrants might adapt their food practices in Shanghai, blending traditional dishes with new influences to create a sense of continuity between their past and present lives.

Implications for Current Research on Youth Migration and Urban Food Culture:

Emotional and Cultural Adaptation: Mintz’s insights into the centrality of food in cultural identity provide a strong foundation for understanding how youth migrants use food to navigate the emotional challenges of migration. By maintaining traditional food practices, migrants can create a sense of continuity and belonging in their new environments.

Food as a Bridge: The concept of food as a social and cultural bridge is particularly relevant to your research question. Mintz’s work suggests that food practices can help youth migrants connect with their new environments while maintaining ties to their home culture, facilitating both personal and social integration.

Blending Traditions: The idea of blending traditional and new food practices aligns with my exploration of how youth migrants might adapt their culinary practices in different cities. This blending can reflect the dynamic nature of cultural identity in the context of migration, offering insights into how migrants create new forms of cultural expression that bridge their past and present.

Reference:

Mintz, S.W. (1996) Tasting Food, Tasting Freedom: Excursions into Eating, Culture, and the Past. Boston, MA: Beacon Press.