Food For Thought

Food is constantly changing and developing, and hopefully, people will change with it. graphic by Evelyn Jackson

The experiences we have and the food that we eat shape us as humans, these are the foods that complete my experiences.

1. Cake and birthdays: The most basic and simple combination. Birthdays can bring so many happy memories and moments to people, and cake is a simple and delicious dessert. The nostalgia and simplicity of the two create an exquisite experience.

2. Hot latte and a crisp rainy morning: I almost never drink hot coffee; it’s not often that it sounds appetizing to me. I will typically go for an iced drink even when the weather is below freezing. However, when I wake up and see the aftermath of a hard rainfall the previous night, or hear thunder outside my house, I suddenly crave a hot latte.

3. Hot cocoa and snowy night: Come on. This is a no-brainer. Snow is an elegant force that brings cold weather and lots of nostalgia and happiness to people. Hot cocoa does the same, and therefore, the two compliment each other. 
4. Lemonade and hot day in July: Lemonade is an incredibly subjective drink; some like it sour while others like it sweet. Personally, I don’t have a huge opinion on lemonade, as long as it’s cold. When lemonade is cold I feel instantly refreshed, and when added to the sweltering heat of July in Colorado, it sparks an instant feeling of happiness. 
5. Fast food after a long day: Any fast food can relieve people of stress or encourage a conversation. While it’s not really good for you, sometimes that simply doesn’t matter. It’s about the conversations you have or the silence you sit in while eating your food. Laughing with a fry in your mouth or crying while taking a bite of your burger is the best way to end your day, good or bad. 
6. Funnel cake and state fairs: I have been going to state fairs forever. When I was a little kid, it was the one day a year I could get a funnel cake. I would always get as many toppings as I could and enjoy every bite of it. Afterwards I would feel extremely sick, but my excitement would never falter. 
7. Popcorn and movies: I can’t remember the last time I went to a movie theatre, didn’t get popcorn, and enjoyed the experience. I love movies, but I simply can’t imagine sitting in a theatre without crunching on a quick snack. Popcorn is just so simple it is nearly impossible for it to go wrong (unless you burn it). 
8. Bagels and Sundays: As a young kid, every Sunday my family and I would go to my grandma’s house for breakfast, there would always be bagels. Now that I am older, we don’t go to my grandma’s house every Sunday, but still, once a week I will crave those bagels. 
9. Beef jerky and road trips: The quintessential food for road trips. It’s easy, clean, and high in protein. Sure, it’s not the healthiest, but no good food is. Perfectionism isn’t possible without the imperfect. That’s what beef jerky and road trips are all about. There are perfect moments with your family and friends when you are blasting music and creating memories. 
10. Chicken noodle soup and being sick: A warm bowl of soup can fix anything. Every occasion has a soup that works with it. It’s hard to pick just one soup and just one event. However, chicken noodle soup while sick is the first combination that comes to mind. The warm broth with mushy noodles can fix anything, especially a cold. 
11. Wings and football: I’ve only really experienced wings and football one time, but when I did, it felt right. Football and the community that goes along with it is extremely tied to ritual. There are certain things that people require to curate a perfect football viewing experience, and a wing is one of those things. The quick but messy snack that can rapidly transform into a filling meal brings people together, it forms friendships through the thick sauce that coats each wing. 
12. Donuts and the morning of a sleepover: Donuts are a rare food in my household. I have always imagined donuts to be an extremely high class food that is an extreme treat whenever I have them, but in reality, I can get a dozen for $10. But still, whenever I have a sleepover with a friend and wake up the next morning, I find myself craving a donut. I wake up feeling disoriented and in need of food, and donuts are the exact food that would cure that feeling. 
13. Kombucha and yoga: Kombucha is an extremely strange drink. I have barely tried it and the times I did it made me feel queasy. Yoga gives me the same impression. They’re both for certain audiences and not for others. It’s an interesting combo that I think is in complete harmony with each other. 
14. Matcha and pilates: While I have never done pilates, I feel like matcha goes perfectly with it. Matcha is clean and elegant, and so is pilates. The rising popularity in both the past year also proves how similar they are. People are attracted to the idea of pilates and the aesthetic of matcha. This gives them a spot together to share their popularity. 
15. Potato salad and picnics: These two are inseparable. You can’t have potato salad without a picnic. You can’t have a picnic without potato salad. When I think of either of these things, I imagine a red and white picnic blanket and a basket. 
16. Taco Bell and 11 p.m.: I discovered the magic that is Taco Bell my sophomore year of high school. My life was instantly changed for the better. I would go to “the bell” with my friends all the time as a quick snack or a long debrief. It changed once more when I got my drivers license and went late at night with my friend. We would get as much as we could afford and eat it all in my car. Taco Bell unites people and brings happiness. I will defend that late night Taco Bell trip forever. 
17.  Sushi and homecoming: The past two years I have gone to the same sushi place with my friend before we went to the homecoming dance. I love this tradition, as it prepares us for the best night. I love the conversations we have over the rolls. I now have the  combination of sushi and homecoming stuck in my head. I think of my friend and our laughter everytime I have a bite of sushi. It is an incredible memory that has stuck in my head. 
18.  Pizza and a lazy Tuesday: Pizza is one of the most common foods in America. Access to it has become so simple, I always align it with a lazy day. It doesn’t have to be a Tuesday, but personally, I believe Tuesday is the laziest day of the week, making the combination of both a perfect sluggish correlation. 
19. Apples and anxiety: I know this is a bit of a reach. The consistency of an apple gives me great relief. Apples have a wonderful crisp texture and an incredible sweet taste. The two balance each other out very well. They are like yin and yang, they balance out. If you are ever having lots of anxiety, I highly suggest eating an apple. 
20. Hot dogs and literally anything: I love hot dogs. Not in a silly funny way. I LOVE HOT DOGS. The blend of dog and bun pair perfectly together. A hot dog is the perfect food for every situation. I can’t imagine a situation where I wouldn’t want a hot dog in my hand. Whether I’m watching a baseball game or at the Grammys, I would want a hot dog.