In this engaging conversation on the Motherhood Kit Podcast, Yamel Belen and Ciji Castro explore reinventing Latin Cuisine for the modern family as it relates to culture, family, and cooking. They discuss the importance of food in expressing love and heritage, the challenges of being a working mom, and the evolution of cooking practices in modern households. Ciji shares her journey of reinventing Latin cuisine while maintaining health consciousness, offering practical meal prep hacks and sustainable cooking tips. They also delve into the dynamics of feeding picky eaters and empowering children to make food choices while navigating family life’s complexities.
Ciji Castro is the founder and owner of Domestic Gourmet, a company dedicated to creating high-quality, handcrafted gourmet Latin foods free from artificial colors and preservatives. With a deep respect for tradition, Ciji’s mission is to provide families with delicious, wholesome kitchen staples that evoke the warmth and memories of ancestral cooking while promoting healthier, more mindful eating.
Key Takeaways:
- Cooking connects us to culture, love, and tradition.
- Meal prepping and planning reduce stress and save time.
- Reinventing traditional dishes can make them healthier without losing authenticity.
- Frozen and pre-chopped ingredients simplify weeknight meals.
- Sustainable cooking reduces waste and saves money.
- Involving kids in food choices fosters independence.
- Understanding food intolerances can help address picky eating.
- Cooking once, eating twice is a practical strategy.
- Reading labels ensures better food quality.
- Small cooking changes lead to healthier meals.
- Broth is a nutritious, versatile ingredient.
- Supporting local farmers enhances meal quality.
Connect with Ciji HERE & via Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest & Youtube
Keep in touch and in the loop with Yamel on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
• One Love Doula Services power this episode, follow us on Instagram to learn more about our work.
•You can access The One Love Childbirth Preparation Course here.
•Visit One Love Nanny’s website
💬 We’d Love to Hear From You!
What are your favorite ways to bring cultural flavor into your weekly meals?
Did any of Ciji’s tips for modernizing Latin cuisine or simplifying midweek cooking resonate with you?
👇 Drop a comment below and share your go-to family dishes, kitchen shortcuts, or how you’re keeping traditions alive in your home. Let’s inspire each other to cook with love, flavor, and ease!
#ModernLatinKitchen #DomesticGourmet #MidweekMealsMadeEasy #MotherhoodKitPodcast
About the Author: Ciji Castro
Ciji Castro is the CEO and Executive Chef behind Domestic Gourmet, a premium food and lifestyle brand rooted in honoring ancestral cooking and Latin traditions. With a deep love for bold, heritage-inspired flavors and clean ingredients, Ciji leads the vision and culinary direction of Domestic Gourmet’s product line.
Her flagship product, 🌿 Domestic Gourmet Organic Annatto Oil (Aceite de Achiote), brings vibrant color and flavor to every dish—celebrating the flavors of her Cuban and Puerto Rican roots while meeting the standards of today’s health-conscious kitchens.
Through Domestic Gourmet, Ciji is on a mission to share the richness of cultural cooking with a modern and convenient twist—one thoughtfully crafted product at a time.
Follow along at @domesticgourmet for recipes, cooking tips, and more.
