When people first hear the title of this workshop, they often pause, intrigued by the alliteration but not quite sure of the connection. Some might expect a history lesson, others a cooking class. Instead, they discover a powerful exploration of how cultural beliefs shape how we manage — or, in many cases, mismanage — food and, ultimately, our health.
As the author of “Leaving Large: The Stories of a Food Addict” and creator of the Mind Over Meals approach, I’ve spent years helping people uncover and transform their limiting beliefs about food. After gaining and losing over 700 pounds throughout my life, I finally discovered that sustainable weight loss requires more than just knowing what to eat — it requires rewiring our deepest beliefs about food, culture, and identity. I shared this revelation in my TEDx Talk, “A Food Addict’s Lesson: Confusion. Clarity. Recovery,” and now teach others how to achieve similar transformations.
The statistics are sobering: African Americans face 60% higher rates of diabetes and 40% higher rates of high blood pressure than white Americans. We’re 1.3 times more likely to be obese and 50% more likely to suffer from stroke. But behind these numbers lie stories — deep-seated stories about food, family, survival, and cultural identity that shape our eating habits in ways we don’t always recognize.
When I lead my healing-and-learning-through-reading-writing-and-storytelling workshops, I begin with three seemingly simple prompts that often unlock profound revelations about our history with food, culture, and health. These workshops emerge from my own journey of transformation and the success I’ve seen in countless clients who’ve lost not just weight, but the limiting beliefs that kept them stuck in unhealthy patterns.
The Power of the Three Prompts
“When you hear the words ‘Black people,’ write about what comes up for you.”
“When you hear the words ‘Black power,’ write about what comes up for you.”
“When you hear the words ‘Black-eyed peas,’ write about what comes up for you.”
As participants share their responses, we reveal layers of meaning: proud cultural traditions, family connections, survival stories, and sometimes, unconscious beliefs that keep them stuck in eating habits that harm their health. African Americans face higher rates of diet-related diseases – 42% obesity rate compared to 32% in the overall population, and Type 2 diabetes rates nearly double those of white Americans — so examining these beliefs becomes vital for our community’s well-being.
The Science of Transformation
Research indicates that combining affirmations, visualization, meditation, and prescriptive writing can lead to significant neurological changes. Here’s how each element works:
Affirmations:
Participants receive guided affirmations to practice daily, ideally morning and evening:
“I honor my ancestors by taking care of my body.”
“My health is my wealth and my legacy.”
“I choose foods that nourish both my culture and my future.”
The key is not just repeating these words but feeling their truth in your body. This process helps create new neural pathways that support healthier choices while maintaining cultural pride.
Meditation and Visualization:
During our sessions, we practice guided visualizations that help rewire emotional connections to food. For example:
“Sit comfortably and breathe deeply. Picture your grandmother’s kitchen, filled with love and warmth. Now imagine that same love being expressed through preparing nutritious meals that honor both your heritage and your health. See yourself feeling energized, strong, and proud, carrying forward the best of your culture while creating new traditions of health…”
Prescriptive Writing for Deep Change
As a Food Story coach, I’ve seen how writing becomes medicine for the soul. Participants engage in structured writing exercises that help them process emotions without turning to food. Here’s a sample prompt sequence:
Could you write about your earliest memory of Black-eyed peas? Who was there? What were you feeling? Now write about what those peas represented beyond just food.
Describe a time when food made you feel connected to your culture. Then explore: How can you maintain that connection while making choices that better serve your health?
This writing process activates multiple areas of the brain simultaneously, creating new neural pathways that support healthier behaviors while preserving cultural connections.
Real Stories, Real Transformation
Through our workshops, Debra Ann, a 55-year-old case manager who had struggled with weight her entire life, discovered that she associated healthy eating with “abandoning her culture.” Through prescriptive writing and visualization, she learned to see healthy adaptations of traditional foods as a way of strengthening, not weakening, her cultural heritage. She’s since lost over 300 pounds (without surgery or medication) and, more importantly, found peace with food while maintaining her cultural connections.
The workshop’s impact extends beyond individual health. When one person in the family transforms how they manage food, entire families can benefit. Children learn new ways of honoring culture while prioritizing health. Communities begin rewriting their collective story about food, culture, and wellness.
Practical Application
Participants leave with a toolkit for ongoing transformation:
– Daily affirmations customized to their specific food stories
– Guided visualization recordings for regular practice
– Writing prompts for continued exploration
– Strategies for adapting traditional recipes
– Community support for sustainable change
Looking Forward
The health challenges facing our community are serious but not insurmountable. Through understanding and transforming our food stories, we can create new narratives that honor our heritage while supporting our health. Just as I maintained my significant weight loss for over five years after decades of struggle, others can find their path to sustainable health.
If you’re ready to explore your own food stories and begin creating lasting change, I’d love to connect with you. The Black People, Black Power, and Black-Eyed Peas workshop is designed to help us reclaim our cultural roots, reimagine our connection to food, and rediscover the power that comes from choosing health while honoring our heritage.
Individuals and groups interested in bringing this transformational experience to their community can schedule time with me to learn more. Let’s start the conversation and explore how this workshop can inspire healing, awareness, and empowerment where you are.
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Michelle Petties is a TEDx speaker, Food Story coach, and award-winning memoirist. After gaining and losing 700 pounds, Michelle discovered the secret to overcoming stress and emotional overeating. Her free workbook, Mind Over Meals, reveals her core principles for losing weight and keeping it off.
This was a great read. I can so relate. An emotional eater was I. Self reflection from the perspective of third party perspectives is where both of my journeys began. As long as breath is present there is always a chance to change was the motto I adopted that started to self healing that made me whole again. 100 lbs gone within a 10 month span. Garden fruits and vegetables, water diet, biking and walking only.