What Malaysian Food Culture Taught Me About My Relationship with Food
Rambutan, a popular tropical fruit know for it’s unique hairy appearance, and sweet, slightly acidic taste.
Life Lately: Food as a Source of Overwhelm
Lately I’ve been having a love-hate relationship with food. As a human being operating in this earthly existence, the daily occurrences of life constantly pull me in a variety of directions, making mindful eating sometimes feel like the last thing I want to worry about. Even when I have used all of my energy for the day, refueling properly has lately seemed like such a burden.
Saying this all to say; I’m hyper aware of how different foods affect my body, which has made figuring out what to eat everyday less like joy and more like a puzzle I have to solve. While some people live to eat, I eat to live- so food has often felt like an insurmountable challenge to concur and I’m noticing patterns in myself that say “it is better to eat nothing at all than to consume trash”. Crazy, I know.
For the past two months, the thought of eating food has made me tired. The thought of me standing over my stove to cook after a long day’s of work sounds unappealing. I try to eat out instead, yet the food is delivered in a low vibrational state, whether it feels like you’re overpaying, the people who make the food are in a bad mood, or you can’t really monitor the hidden ingredients that come on your plate.
In these moments of constantly thinking about food and realizing I have to do it multiple times a day and for the rest of my life, I have ashamedly sometimes opted out of eating completely because I would rather not bother. This is a new phenomenon to me.
I figured this lack of desire and overwhelm to eat has a lot to do with burnout and dysregulation. I thought it had a lot to do with work and trying to stay on top of everything, and considered whether allowing myself to slow down would re-inspire my love for food again. As my trip to Asia was upcoming, I was hoping that new flavors, cheaper eats, and discovery would get me inspired again…and fortunately, I got exactly what I was looking for.
Curry spices found in Malaysia
Discovering Malaysian Food Culture
Food in itself communicates so much- it symbolizes health, access, nourishment, tradition, and deeply held cultural values. It’s one of the most fundamental parts of daily life for humans yet it’s so easy for us to take it fore granted. I always remind myself how eating is a daily task and no matter what happens in life, eating is always something that we must do! For this reason, I find food to be of ultimate importance and something that I often think about. I have also noticed it’s one of my favorite ways to learn more about another region. The way food in America defines our lives, our interactions, and is a reflection of our cultural values, it is the same for any other country and the perfect entry point to learn about their cultural values as well.
Malaysian food culture is vibrant and tells a rich story that is rooted in immigration, religion, ethnicity, and geography. In just one bite, you can taste centuries worth of history.
Malaysia is characterized by three main races including the Malays (62% of the population), Chinese (20% of the. population), and Indians (6.2% of the population). I was especially surprised and intrigued by the strong Muslim influence here. This demographic meant Chinese, Indian, and Malay fusion foods with many dishes that are halal alongside side a wide variety of vegetarian options available.
Rice is a staple and meals often include generous amounts of spices, herbs, and coconut milk. Popular dishes like roti canna, nasa leak, or see goring mama represent these unique flavor blends. Prior to this trip, I was very well familiar with roti’s and curries but not of much else. Being familiar with some items and not the others helped me to see the wholeness in food, the influence in culture, and to appreciate the stories it carries along with every bite. Malaysian food has reminded me how food can be a gateway to understanding not just others, but also yourself too. The food has finally got my mind stimulated again and considering every possibility that got these particular eats on my very own special plate.
What surprised me about Malaysian Food
We went on a tour with a guide who was extensively knowledgeable about the history and culture of Malaysian food. She shared some fun facts like Malaysia has a very low rate of food poisoning because the country is very particular about sanitized drinking water, or that Malaysia’s Indian cuisine mostly draws from southern India, giving it lighter, sweeter flavors, and less of the heavy fish sauce flavors we are used to in other Asian regions.
You can find durian fruit stands all across Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
And apparently, Malaysia is the self-proclaimed King of the durian fruit. They claim to have the best, most mild durian fruits in comparison to other Southeast Asian countries.
The durian has an unforgettable smell and a love-it-or-hate-it reputation for travelers. The way our guide described it is that is has a taste of sweetness, cheese, garlic, and a chewy texture. It sounded nuts but it’s everywhere in Malaysia and you can palpably see that people are passionate about it. Even with it’s strong smell, durian fruit is a cultural staple across Asian countries.
What surprised me the most about Malaysian food was the affordability and intentionality behind the food. You can get a full meal and drink at a hawker center for around 6-10 Ringgit (which is only about 1.40-$2.40 USD). A pack of a dozen eggs cost $2. Our guide mentioned how some muslim stands give away free food because they know that the more they give, the more Allah will bless them. But more than the cost, it was the care and pride in preparation that moved me.
All of a sudden, I was more enthused about eating the food when I realized Malaysian’s make food accessible for most regardless of socioeconomic status, much unlike our American counterparts. It reminded me that food can bridge a gap between people, where I live in a country that food can often create larger divides between the haves and the have-nots. All of a sudden, eating started to feel more magical, more inspiring, more as a way to build connection with others rather than a way that keeps me isolated because Im spending all my time trying to figure out how to access quality food when all my country seems to want to inundate us with is unhealthy options.
Reflection: What it made me realize about American Food Culture
Putting food at the forefront of my trip reminded me as to why I have possibility gone out of touch with food as of late. As an American, I have become disillusioned by our culture’s detachment from food. We are disconnected from its origins, it’s impact on our health, and the meaning behind it. I often find eating to be a mindless activity when I break bread with other Americans, due to our culture of disconnection from source. For this reason, trying to make the “right” food choices all the time has left me feeling exhausted and isolated. It makes sense why I haven’t really been into eating lately, as crazy as that sounds.
Malaysia has reminded me that my love for food isn’t dead but that I probably have to refocus my intentions on putting love and care into what I consume, even when American culture and lifestyle discourages that everywhere we look. Malaysia has reminded me to return to quality ingredients, exploration of flavors, and probably sticking to making food at home the majority of the time, and even inviting friends to join me! As meaningful as food is to me, I understand I have to make it my own, pour into it with love, and I cannot depend on the typical American restaurant to supply me the true nourishment that I need.
Conclusion: A New Way of Relating to Food
Malaysia reminded me that food doesn’t have to be overwhelming and is here to support me, not drain me. Rather than food being just a mindlessly casual thing we do every day, it can be fulfilling , nourishing, and rooted in community. That’s something I truly appreciate and needed to feel again. Thank you Malaysia!