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Saber Healthcare offers a program called Port of Call, where our residents have the chance to experience the culture of a different city or country each month. Our participating dietary and life enrichment teams work together to create a unique cultural experience filled with food and activities centered on the chosen port.

The meals and activities offered during our Jamaica Port of Call made this event memorable. Let’s take a look at Jamaica’s food history and diet, as well as how our participating communities incorporated all of this into our Jamaica Port of Call program.  

A Brief History of Jamaican Food

Jamaica has a diverse and unique food culture, and most of it comes from the island’s native inhabitants. Jamaica is known to be a melting pot of people from different parts of the world, and much of the country’s food reflects the influence that various immigrants had.

Jamaica was first colonized by the Spanish in the 16^th century and these settlers introduced Jewish dishes such as escoveitch fish. The British colonization in the 17^th century introduced baked goods and sugar production.¹

Along with the British colonization came the trans-Atlantic slave trade, which is how West African cuisine was brought to the island. African settlers had a great influence on what we know Jamaican food to be today.² Some notable parts of the Jamaican cuisine originated at this time such as jerk sauce, ackee fruit, and callaloo.

In the 19^th century, many people from China were brought to Jamaica for labor. They left an impact on the food in Jamaica, and this is why rice is a staple in many of their meals.

Thousands of indentured workers from India were brought to Jamaica in the 19^th century as well. The flavors that were introduced at this time really tie together the Jamaican cuisine, using the strong spices that resulted in Jamaica’s famous Caribbean curry dishes.

The Jamaican Diet

Jerk cuisine, which originated in Jamaica, is famous around the world. Jerk not only refers to a seasoning, but is also known as a method of cooking as well. Runaway slaves, known as the Maroons, would prepare their meals underground over coals and pimento wood. This is how the combination of spice and fragrant wood was created, and many culinary professionals still use this technique today.³

Jamaica’s meals are flavorful and use rich spices such as ginger, nutmeg, and allspice. Allspice is made from dried berries of the pimento plant, which is native to Jamaica.²

Seafood is a main staple in the Jamaican diet. The Caribbean sea surrounds the island of Jamaica, where there is plenty lobster, shrimp, and fish available for cooking. Fruits also grow well in Jamaica’s tropical climate, including pineapple, papaya, guava, and plantains. Ackee is a popular fruit, and it is also the national fruit of Jamaica.

When it comes to meal time in Jamaica, it’s been noted that it’s a social and casual event. The food and company are more important than the manners. Three meals a day with snacks in between is the usual for those individuals in Jamaica.

Some popular foods include ackee, which is the national fruit of Jamaica, as well as johnnycakes, plantains, fish, and lean meats. It’s common for the meats or fish to be cooked as a curry or jerk-style.⁴

Saber Healthcare’s Jamaica Port of Call

Saber Healthcare brought Jamaica’s culture and food to residents at participating communities!

Mim Harring, Food Service Director at Tremont Health and Rehabilitation, shared a little bit about the Jamaica Port of Call.

“The Port of Calls are special for the residents and a challenge for my team, but a challenge is always nice,” Harring shared. “It takes residents out of the box and to a different country.”

The meal served for the Jamaica Port of Call consisted of Jamaican jerk chicken, braised turnips and carrots, Jamaican dirty rice, and beans. Harring said that the chicken was marinated with brown sugar, cinnamon, and pineapple juice to give it a distinct Caribbean flavor. They also roasted the turnips and carrots to give them a bit of char, which is popular with Jamaican food. They used turmeric to make the dirty rice, which is also a popular spice in the Jamaican diet.

“The meal was balanced with a protein, starch, and vegetables,” Harring shared.

They also had a flavorful dessert to really get the full taste of a tropical meal: an upside down pineapple coconut cake.

Harring discussed that to prep for this new Port of Call, they all got together and planned the recipe and activities for the Jamaica Port of Call.

Along with the big meal, participating Life Enrichment departments also step in to plan activities, games, and events related to the Port of Call. Harring discussed that at Tremont Health and Rehabilitation, they made a “tiki cart” with tropical décor that went around to residents’ rooms and served tropical beverages.

“We really enjoy doing all the port of calls,” Harring stated. “The residents look forward to it every month. The meals are exceptional.”

Learn More

Saber Healthcare’s dietary departments work hard to not only make appetizing and nutritious meals, but also to celebrate different cultures and food.

To learn more about Saber Healthcare and what we do, click here. If you’re interested in joining one of our dietary teams, click here to find an opportunity near you.

Saber Healthcare is an organization dedicated to providing consultant services to long term care providers. This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to be seen as professional advice. Please consult with a medical expert before relying on the information provided.

Sources

1. “Origins of Jamaican Cuisine.” Kingston-Miami Trading Co., jcskitchen.com. Accessed February 28^th, 2022. https://www.jcskitchen.com/origins-of-jamaican-cuisine-the-melting-pot-of-flavor-and-culture.
2. “Brief History Of Jamaican Food & Cuisine.” World Food 4U, world-food-4u.com. November 12^th, 2021. Accessed February 28^th, 2022. https://world-food-4u.com/2021/11/12/history-of-jamaican-food-cuisine/.
3. “Jamaican Food.” Jamaica, visitjamaica.com. Accessed February 28^th, 2022. https://www.visitjamaica.com/feel-the-vibe/cuisine/jamaican-food/.
4. “Jamaica.” Advameg, foodbycountry.com. Accessed February 28^th, 2022. http://www.foodbycountry.com/Germany-to-Japan/Jamaica.html.