One standard does not fit all with Food by Jessica Kinsella
We’ve all been there - going out for a meal with friends or family. Everyone gets handed a menu and never once is EVERYONE going to eat the same dish. A few might choose a similar dish, but not everyone is going to order the same type of pizza, or all want fettuccine alfredo, or butter chicken. Think of that example when you think about providing food to a family. What one family might find useful may not be so useful for the next. This need for choice is based on our culture, our food preferences and our abilities to cook that food. While some items are quite universal, adding dignity in choice and abiding by one’s cultural and specific dietary needs goes a long way towards acknowledging each other with respect and kindness.
Working in food response throughout the pandemic, I can recognize now that I had a great deal of judgement and bias at times. I remember thinking this common misconception: “If people are hungry enough, they shouldn’t complain too much”. We are human, and humans are capable of growth, both physically and within your own mindset and beliefs. At one point I was running a small pantry out of my home, feeding a few families in my community weekly. I started showing them pictures of what I had available, asking if there was anything in particular they would like. Often, people were immensely grateful for whatever I could give but I noticed many appreciated being able to see what choices I had and would let me know if a specific item caught their eye or they didn’t need something. I also found some would message me, asking for directions on how to cook an item - rice, for example.
When I took on a contract position working in emergency food response for most of 2021, I was excited to create an intake form that encompassed the whole household. We aimed not only to provide food, but anything a household could need, including diapers, infant formula, pet food, household cleaners and over-the-counter medications. And even then, I had things to learn about being respectful of culture. My husband and I are vegan/vegetarian, and I remember getting a request from a vegetarian mother. I thought presumptuously “I got this, I know exactly what to give”. I packed the hamper with good intentions but got a call two days later. The mother was grateful for what she had received, but she was not familiar with some of the things I had sent and other items she did not regularly use or enjoy. I realised then, “one standard does not fit all”. I had assumed, as a vegetarian, I would know what another vegetarian might like. But my diet is influenced by my culture and upbringing, just as someone else is influenced by theirs. This was my “lightbulb moment” - it provided the opportunity for myself, and our food response to shift to ensure we gave people choice and provided culturally relevant and dietary-specific foods.
It isn’t the easiest decision to make uniquely customized hampers. In fact, sometimes it can be a real pain. We tried a few times to standardize our food hampers, but each time we found it felt…wrong. People complained, did not feel heard, did not find the food useful or know how to cook it - all leading to food waste and lack of recognition of their needs. But by abiding by their choice, treating people like equals, like human beings, we were able to support them during challenging times with dignity and respect. And that makes it all worth it.