Food in Mozambique

“Estás gorda” (you’re fat) he told me after he welcomed me back home. (Apparently it was obvious that I had eaten well in South Africa).  Now in America that would be a clear insult but not around here.

 So why is being called fat not insulting?

“Estás gorda” was more like an observation with a positive connotation.  I visited a friend and with pride she showed me her chunky baby sister, as if to say “What a good, strong, healthy baby!”  When I lived in Venezuela a lady at church called me “gorda” as a term of endearment.

Living in Mozambique has changed me.

One aspect of change is my perspective of food.

I personally know people who are hungry.  Not I haven’t eaten in three hours hungry-but I haven’t had food in three days (not by choice) hungry.  These people have no body fat so starvation is not so far away. (Like Carlota in the tangerine blog). And so a few months ago when I saw TV commercials for Man versus Food I was so disturbed, wondering how eating enough for approximately 10 people becomes this virtuous feat.  The way they cheered when he entered the room, you’d think he climbed Mt. Everest or cured cancer.  No, he just eats a lot.

                                                           "American food"  I decided to use the first image that popped up on a search for both American food and Mozambican food.

Here in Mozambique, people eat to live.                                                                                                         Perhaps on rare occasions they will have something special, out of the ordinary.  Like chicken for a birthday party.  But in the States people eat whatever they feel like. Even if you subsist on food stamps, you have far more variety and selection in food than 90% of Mozambicans I’ve met.  On second thought, make that all Mozambicans, because American grocery stores are substantially bigger (therefore have more variety) than those in Mozambique.

"Mozambican Food" matapa..looks like its with cassava. 

You see- its only being here that I’ve realized I’ve never been truly hungry.  I’ve never been malnourished or anywhere close to starving.  If I choose not to eat, it’s because I’m fasting.  Sometimes I’m naturally hungry, but I’ve never wondered if I could afford to eat.  I might not have known exactly where I’d eat or what I’d eat…but there’s always rice.  There’s no way my Mozambican friends (and even strangers, I’d be willing to bet) would let me go hungry.  I’ve also realized how much I eat for reasons other than hunger- whether it’s out of habit or pleasure or emotion.  I definitely spurge on occasion, eating like an American: at a restaurant, or buy expensive things (by Mozambican standards) like cheese or a box of cereal or ice cream.

For many Mozambicans that I know and regularly visit- food is one of their most valuable resources; which is why eating whatever they offer me is one of the best ways for me to honor, love and accept them.  Just last week as I was visiting Julia and Sergio they killed a small goat early that morning and so after our Bible Study I ate a goat leg and xima (like cornmeal).  I actually really enjoyed the meal and felt honored by the gesture.  When it comes to eating unusual foods, I can be paranoid and worry about the unsanitary conditions that the food was prepared in, or focus on different flavors I don’t like, or humbly and gratefully receive what has been offered, and thank God that I can eat just about anything.