Each chapter opens with a recipe and is followed by the narration. Home remedies are interspersed throughout the novel. The narrative structure helps put the focus on the food, which not only symbolizes the emotions the characters are feeling but also connects multiple aspects of the story. For example, food bonds the three generations of women who make it and highlights the similarities in their experiences. The food also creates a connection to the women's Mexican heritage, which links their experiences to the turbulent historical events happening around them.