What can the Latino Nutrition Coalition do for me?
The LNC provides the health professional community with:
• access to free educational materials to be used with patients
• resources regarding cultural-related information about Latino patients
• healthy, culturally-appropriate recipe ideas
If you, or your practice, see a special need in the Latino community and you can’t find the necessary resources on our website, please ask us. We will do our best to provide it to you.
What is the difference between Latino and Hispanic? How should I refer to my patients?
The terms "Hispanic" and "Latino" are often used interchangeably. In the southwest region of the US, the term Hispanic is preferred while the East Coast region of the US generally prefers the term Latino.
Technically, HISPANIC implies a connection to ancient Spain and its language while LATINO represents Latin American origins or ancestry. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language describes the difference this way:
“Hispanic, from the Latin word for ‘Spain’, has the broader reference, potentially encompassing all Spanish-speaking peoples in both hemispheres and emphasizing the common denominator of language among communities that sometimes have little else in common. Latino—which in Spanish means ‘Latin’ but which as an English word is probably a shortening of the Spanish word ‘latinoamericano’—refers more exclusively to persons or communities of Latin American origin. Of the two, only Hispanic can be used in referring to Spain and its history and culture; a native of Spain residing in the United States is a Hispanic, not a Latino, and one cannot substitute Latino in the phrase the Hispanic influence on native Mexican cultures without garbling the meaning.”
Both words, Hispanic and Latino, are umbrella terms used to describe people of certain heritage. Most Hispanics and Latinos living in the US prefer to be referred to by their specific country of origin, i.e. Mexican, Cuban, Colombian, etc.
What is the background of the Latino Nutrition Coalition?
The LNC is an educational program created and managed by Oldways, a 501-c-3 non-profit specializing in effective, innovative nutrition information programs. Oldways created the Latin Pyramid in 1996, and has been promoting traditional Latino foods for more than a decade. Our goal is to provide resources to support health professionals in the important work they do.
Do you provide disease-specific information on diabetes or other conditions?
No. We see our job as assisting you by serving as “information central” for specifics on Latinos and health. Come here often, and you’ll find information on food and nutrition that will help patients with a variety of conditions. And you’ll also find links to health information that we’ve uncovered and made available here, all in one place.
Who verifies your health information?
All pertinent information is reviewed by our team of scientific advisors as well as our in-house RD. For a full list of our Scientific Advisory Board, click here.
All information on this website is ©2003-2007, Oldways, unless otherwise noted.
Website design by Dyango Chavez