| Free soul food recipes continue to go through | | | | Atlanta Georgia, known as the Mecca of southern |
| major changes. In response to growing consumer | | | | dining by many. |
| demand and to maintain market share, more | | | | More and more soul food restaurants are starting |
| book, website and recipe publishers are slimming | | | | to cater to the health conscious crowd by |
| down their recipes. How? By cutting the high | | | | offering salads on their menus. A few years ago |
| calorie fats, sodium and creams in their recipes. | | | | most would laugh at the thought of salad or any |
| Making the ingredients leaner and meaner comes | | | | kind of fresh vegetable at a soul food |
| as a result of consumer demand. | | | | establishment, they just didn't go together. Now, |
| Southern recipes have come under the gun by | | | | more owners are adding salad bars and even |
| many health experts and medical professionals for | | | | offering vegetarian menus to their customers. |
| the large quantities of fat and sodium they | | | | The response has been overwhelming. In fact, |
| contain. As tasty as these southern inspired | | | | one owner plans to open a separate Vegetarian |
| dishes have been. Many health experts complained | | | | Soul Food Restaurant next year because of the |
| about the ingredients and cooking methods which | | | | growing demand. |
| can cause high blood pressure, diabetes and | | | | Soul food cooking techniques are also adapting to |
| obesity as well as other health threatening | | | | the slimmer, leaner consumer demand. Techniques |
| ailments. | | | | not normally associated with southern cooking is |
| In response to these concerns, the industry is | | | | joining this movement. For example, stir frying - |
| starting to respond by reducing these health | | | | this quick cooking method that helps to preserve |
| threatening ingredients. "The trick has always | | | | nutrients and vitamins is being used in more soul |
| been to reduce the bad-for-your-health stuff | | | | food recipes. You'll also notice more steaming, |
| without reducing the taste. We are getting better | | | | baking and roasting used and less deep fat frying. |
| at it," admits Don Griffith, Executive Chef from | | | | |