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By Armita Hosseini & Omid Roustaei

Food as with most cultures plays a significant role in Iranian culture. It is not only a daily ritual and
practice of preparing traditional food, but also a means to preserve our culture through its cuisine. Iranian food also holds a significant tie to our holidays and ceremonies.

What we are hoping to achieve in this conversation is to begin talking about some of the norms, rituals, expectations as well as challenges that are associated with food, eating and the cultural norms. Food and eating can be deeply enriching and community building, while it can also be a source of distress and struggle.

Our hope is that you can walk away with some tools and tips related to our emotional health, mindful eating, and incorporating some of these influences, particularly during the pandemic.

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About Armita Hosseini

Armita Hosseini is a registered member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario as a Psychological Associate (supervised practice). She completed her Master’s of Education in Counselling Psychology from the University of Western Ontario. Her curiosity about child psychology, and determination to broaden her expertise, led to completing another Masters in Clinical-Developmental Psychology from York University.

Throughout the 10+ years of her clinical and research training, she has worked for publicly funded mental health agencies and hospitals including, The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and various private practices. Currently, she works with children, adolescents, and adults, conducting diagnostic assessments and providing psychological interventions with a wide range of social-emotional, behavioral, and learning needs and presenting challenges. She is specialized in short-term, cognitive behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, and emotion-focused therapy.

Aside from her clinical practice, Armita is a self-taught cook, food stylist. Given her academic background in the field of psychology, she is interested in the psychology of food and the cultural components that shape our eating experiences. In her kitchen, she treats food as an art form and draws inspiration from colors, flavors, texture, art, and my fond childhood memories growing up in Tehran, Iran. She hopes to bridge the gap between culture, art, food, and design while showcasing a refreshing take on traditional Iranian recipes and ingredients.

Credentials: Armita Hosseini, M.Ed., M.A., C.Psych. Assoc.

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About Omid Roustaei

Omid Roustaei is an Iranian-American psychotherapist specializing in relationship and family counseling. He attended the School of Natural Cookery in Boulder, Colorado, where he studied the art of intuitive cooking. As a culinary instructor, Omid is passionate about sharing Persian culture and traditions through food and storytelling. His mission now is to spread awareness of Persian culture and cuisine, which he does by writing his blog, by teaching online cooking classes, and through his work with the non-profit organization, Seattle Isfahan Sister Cities Advocacy.