According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Latinos in the U.S. have a longer life expectancy than the non-Latino white population.

While acculturation may have a significant impact on the diet of the millions of Hispanics in the country, data from The Multi-Cultural Latino Consumer study indicates the family experience is still what drives most of the Latino food purchases and choices.

Living healthier lives starts with eating healthier meals. And among Hispanics and Millennials, it all begins in the home kitchen. SSG-TQF Proprietary Research conducted January / February 2013 shows that 90% of first generation Hispanics, 82% of Millennials and 80% of second generation Hispanics agreed with this statement: “When I cook dinner, it is important that it be healthy.”

How do you measure health? It is in how many servings of fruits and vegetables you have a day? How many times you exercise  a week? How many doctor visits you have a month? Or how many conditions you have?

Sonia Gallegos’ earliest memory of food is of her grandmother selling groceries out of a small chest in Mexico. Gallegos’ mother also made a career in the food industry when she arrived in the United States. Inspired by her mother and grandmother, who spent their lives around food and a kitchen, Gallegos began working in a restaurant, and now possesses over 30 years of experience in the industry.