Hard-liners on immigration reform might want to round up illegal immigrants and ship them back to their native countries, but even the most severe measures would be unlikely to reverse the effects that growing numbers of Latino-Americans have already had on life in the U.S.
That much is clear in a recent message from the Cabot Creamery Cooperative, an association of more than 1,000 family-owned dairy farms with headquarters in Vermont, a state where more than 96% of the entire population is native born. The members of the cooperative are spread through Vermont and other parts of New England, and they've caught onto a Latino dish that's crossed over to American culture. Indeed, the New England dairy farmers are touting the breakfast burrito as a great way for children to get the nutrition they need to stay sharp in school.
Pushing breakfast burritos loaded with cheese is also a great way for dairy farmers to encourage sales of their goods, of course. The promotional campaign on behalf of a bunch of family-owned dairy farms located in some of the longest established states of the union — a region touched less by legal or illegal immigration than most other sections of the country — also offers an indicator of a broad acceptance of the sorts of cultural shifts that come with significant demographic changes.
The promotional effort by the Cabot Creamery Cooperative moved smoothly from a rundown of the benefits of a hearty breakfast to a big plug for breakfast burritos.
"Missing out on breakfast is a huge mistake for parents and students," said Sara Wing, a registered dietician who serves as spokesperson for the Cabot Creamery Cooperative. "A lot of students think skipping breakfast is not a big deal, but studies show that it is. Lower test scores, more frequent tardiness, poorer cognitive abilities and shorter attention spans are all more prevalent in students who do not eat breakfast."
Enter the breakfast burrito, which Wing declared to be "a delicious and nutritious breakfast for your child doesn't have to get in the way of a busy morning schedule."
The breakfast burrito will take only minutes to make and provide the good start that kids need to succeed," Wing added.
So the campaign offers plenty of evidence that Latino-American immigration has added some new ingredients to American culture. That's an aspect of everyday life that many of the most strident opponents of legal or illegal immigration often fail to see or tend to overlook.
Then again, a breakfast burrito can be a tasty and nutritious breakfast for children on their way to school — and fairly easy to make. So here is the recipe that the Cabot Creamery Cooperative sent along:
Easy Egg Burrito — Makes 2 servings
Nonstick cooking spray
2 large eggs
1/3 cup chopped cooked vegetables (leftovers are fine)
2 tablespoons milk
2 corn or flour tortillas
1/4 cup Cabot 50% Reduced Fat Cheddar, grated
2 tablespoons tomato salsa
- Coat inside of small microwave-safe bowl with cooking spray; add eggs and beat lightly with fork to combine. Add vegetables and milk and stir together.
- Cover bowl loosely with plastic wrap to prevent splattering. Microwave on high power for 40 seconds.
- Stir eggs to break up clumps, cover bowl again, and microwave for another 30 seconds or until cooked through (time will vary with microwave).
- Place half of eggs in center of each tortilla and top with cheese. Roll up and top with salsa.
Jerry Sullivan is editor of the L.A. Garment & Citizen.
Image from Cabot Cooperative
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