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Sami Mansfield: How Food’s Mission Has Changed Over 80 Years

Sami (Papacek) Mansfield/LinkedIn

Dec 27, 2024, 06:00

Sami Mansfield: How Food’s Mission Has Changed Over 80 Years

Sami Mansfield, Founder of Cancer Wellness for Life, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“From Convenience to Commitment: How Food’s Mission Has Changed Over 80 Years.

Today, food is often about quick fixes and highly palatable options. But 80 years ago, food served a much deeper purpose. It was about survival, unity, and supporting a nation in need.

From the home economics movement to wartime efforts, food was a lens through which we tackled big challenges:

Helping families navigate wartime shortages.
Educating communities about nutrition and hygiene.
Partnering with immigrant communities to share knowledge across languages and traditions.

In 1942, a Cornell war emergency bulletin, Eat Well to Work Well, encouraged Americans to support the war effort by eating specific foods. Recognizing the diversity of industrial workers in urban areas, the bulletin was translated into Polish and Italian to reach immigrant communities.

I came across this resource after hearing about it on a podcast and it really stuck with me – Thank you to the Cornell University library for sharing these amazing pieces of our history!

Home economists played a crucial role, showing how food could unify a nation in crisis.

‘Not by Bread Alone’ explores these moments of innovation and resilience, shaping the flavors and habits we know today.

Food isn’t just fuel. It’s a reflection of our history, diversity, and spirit.

This holiday season, my thoughts are with my grandparents, first-generation immigrants from the Czech Republic.

My grandmother had a deep love for cooking, baking, and feeding people—a love that lives on in me, even though she passed away more than 25 years ago.

Every Christmas, we enjoyed plum dumplings—a simple, inexpensive dish that carried decades of family history. And, of course, there were plenty of poppy seed treats, both savory and sweet.

But it wasn’t just about the food.

It was the tradition of gathering that made these moments truly special.

What holiday food traditions bring your family together? I’d love to hear!”

Sami Mansfield: How Food’s Mission Has Changed Over 80 Years

More posts featuring Sami Mansfield.

Sami (Papacek) Mansfield is the founder of Cancer Wellness for Life. She’s been a certified cancer exercise specialist since 2003 and has dedicated her career to implementing evidence-based lifestyle education, resources and tools into cancer care for both the patients and the providers.

She is also a Chair of Cancer Member Interest Group, at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and Breast Cancer Taskforce Co-Chair at Colorado Cancer Coalition.