‘Taste the World’ – The role of food on health and identity in our multicultural city

Food is not only important to our physical health, but also our mental well-being and it helps connect people and communities. As someone who didn’t grow up in Scotland, I understand how food of our childhood holds deep meaning – shaping our identity, creating emotional connections, and playing a central role in celebrations. 

Glasgow Food Policy Partnership is delighted to support Taste the Place, which aligns well with our vision of a city where good food is accessible, celebrated, and shared by people from all ethnic backgrounds. By showcasing Glasgow’s rich and diverse food culture, the campaign highlights the important role food plays in fostering community, supporting local businesses, and promoting sustainability. 

World Health Day takes place globally on the 7th of April. Led by the World Health Organization (WHO), it is a day on which physical, mental, and emotional well-being is promoted and celebrated all over the world. Food is vital for good health and can play a huge part in connecting communities and cultures. 

Making tasty, nutritious food available to everyone should be a priority when working to improve health and wellbeing. This is what Glasgow’s 10-year Food Plan aims to do by working collaboratively with different sectors across the city. It recognises the need for making ‘culturally appropriate food’ available for everyone whether it’s purchased from a shop, restaurant or served as part of a community meal. This does not mean that you can’t use local ingredients to produce dishes from other cultures; exploring how local produce can be used differently and traditional recipes adapted can bring communities together. 

Locally sourced food is good for the local economy, supporting those working to grow and produce our food. Local food can also be better for the environment, especially if it is produced in an environmentally friendly way (eg organic or zero waste produce, natural plant-based proteins such as Full of Beans). The aims of the Glasgow City Food Plan link to Scotland’s wider Good Food Nation ambition “where people from every walk of life take pride and pleasure in, and benefit from, the food they produce, buy, cook, serve, and eat each day.” 

Celebrating the diversity of Glasgow’s multicultural food scene is one way to get involved in the global and local action on improving health and sustainability. Some of the restaurants taking part in the ‘Taste the Place’ campaign are also members of the Glasgow Sustainable Food Directory, which has been developed to help locals and visitors find some of the most sustainable restaurants, cafes and food shops in Glasgow. 

For those interested in learning more on the Glasgow Food Policy Partnership, Glasgow City Food Plan or the Glasgow Sustainable Food Directory please contact me on Riikka.Gonzalez@glasgow.ac.uk.