Budae jjigae, also known as army stew, is a unique fusion dish that combines Korean flavors with American processed food. The dish, which includes ingredients like ham, sausage, spam, instant noodles, spicy broth, American cheese, and scallions, gained popularity in South Korea during the 1950s, a time of poverty following the Korean War.
Grace Go, a talented student journalist, created an award-winning podcast called Discomfort Food, where she explores her complex relationship with budae jjigae and her own mental health. Through her podcast, Grace shares her personal journey and the struggles she faced with her body image and food.
Growing up in an immigrant household, Grace noticed the conflicting attitudes towards food. While her parents valued food and its role in their culture, there was also a societal pressure that prevented many Asian Americans from having a healthy relationship with food. Grace includes recordings of her family members commenting on her body, which had a detrimental effect on her wellbeing and eventually led to an eating disorder diagnosis in November 2021.
To better understand her own experiences, Grace takes on the role of a journalist in her podcast. She conducts interviews with experts, like Joann Kim from the Korean Community Service Center, who explains the group mentality often found in Korean immigrant communities. This mentality, reflected in the language, puts pressure on individuals to conform and please others, resulting in a constant need to fit in.
Through her journey of recovery, Grace learns to embrace her discomfort food, budae jjigae. It took time and support, but she finally felt comfortable enough to ask her mom to make her favorite dish. Eating the whole pot by herself, Grace realized that she was doing something good for herself, breaking free from the negative associations she had with food.
Grace shares her story with the hope that her experiences will help others facing similar challenges. She advocates for more resources and less stigma surrounding mental health, particularly in her community, so that others can find comfort in their own discomfort food.
To listen to Grace’s insightful podcast, click here.
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Rohit Malhotra is a medical expert and health journalist who offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being. His articles aim to help readers lead healthier lives.
