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Argentine woman leaves US systems job for kitchen dream
🇦🇷 Argentina /Culture & Society

Argentine woman leaves US systems job for kitchen dream

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • A 70-year-old Argentine woman left a systems career in the U.S. to pursue her passion for cooking and natural foods.
  • She initially followed a strict macrobiotic diet and ended up directing a foundation focused on its health benefits.
  • After returning to systems work and raising a family, she rediscovered her love for food's impact on well-being, now embracing a more flexible approach.

At 70, an Argentine woman reflects on a life transformed by her passion for cooking and natural foods. She left a promising career in systems in the United States in her late twenties, surprising many, to become a kitchen assistant at the Macrobiotic Foundation of Miami. Her journey into macrobiotics, then a niche topic in Argentina, revealed the profound effects of a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, and fermented foods on personal well-being, especially for those managing illnesses.

I left a job in systems and had a well-defined career path. However, for years I had felt a deep fascination for cooking and everything related to natural foods.

— The womanReflecting on her decision to change careers in her late twenties.

What began as assisting in the kitchen evolved into directing the foundation over four years. This period was marked by intense learning, cooking, teaching, and supporting individuals seeking to improve their health through diet. Returning to Argentina, she resumed her career in systems and psychology, built a family, and for many years, her connection to cooking took a backseat, though it never truly disappeared.

What I found in that foundation was much more than a kitchen. It was a space where the effects of a diet based on whole grains, legumes, vegetables, and fermented foods could begin to be observed on people's well-being.

— The womanDescribing her early experiences at the Macrobiotic Foundation of Miami.

Now, she emphasizes that food's impact on how we feel is undeniable. Her understanding has shifted from the rigid discipline of her thirties, where she believed in a single correct way to eat, to a more nuanced appreciation. While macrobiotic principles remain a reference, she now chooses these habits, like a Japanese-inspired breakfast of miso soup, grilled tofu, and organic vegetables, for pleasure and how they make her feel, rather than obligation.

One of my biggest mistakes was confusing discipline with rigidity.

— The womanOn her evolving understanding of nutrition and dietary approaches.

Her current venture, Sagrat, offers a unique culinary experience. Recently, Japanese visitors expressed surprise and delight at finding such authentic offerings in Buenos Aires, noting it was the only place they could enjoy a traditional Japanese breakfast during their travels. This highlights her successful fusion of past passion with present-day fulfillment.

I choose it for pleasure, for taste, and for how it makes me feel.

— The womanExplaining her current approach to eating macrobiotic-inspired meals.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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