We worried about Auntie Doll, a longtime patient with diabetes and heart disease, when we learned she had stopped taking her medication and rarely saw her doctor, both due to finances.* Amazingly, she lived almost 2 decades after her heart attack.
Auntie Doll was a beloved member of my husband’s family and the last time she cooked for us, at her home in Trinidad, I understood one of the reasons why she was able to live so long — she had figured out how to heal herself with food. She replaced the white flour in her roti (Indian flatbread) with her custom blend of oats, flaxseed, and whole wheat. She paired it with Trinidadian dal, also known as yellow split pea soup, which can be made with pretty much any legume and can be enjoyed as a soup or a side dish, depending on how thick or thin you make it. In Trinidad, it is made on the watery side and served as a sauce alongside roti.
Instinctively, Auntie Doll understood the power of food as medicine.
*This is not medical advice. Before starting or discontinuing any medications, please consult with your provider.
Listen to Linda Shiue, MD, tell the story behind 2 recipes she learned from Auntie Doll. See below to make the recipes for yourself!
Multigrain roti
Trinidadian dal
Multigrain roti
Trinidadian dal
Multigrain roti
Trinidadian dal
Note: Nutrition information for Trinidadian dal does not include added salt.