Why Connect Over Food
Finding a way to start a meaningful conversation and really connect is an idea I have been mulling over for months. Watching the craziness that the presidential election has brought the idea seemed even more important and really started to come together. There has certainly been a lot of talk about how divided we all are, but there has been a lot of action that shows hope and that community and love can unite us for a common good. Focusing on that good it should always be important, but is even more so now.
The current state of affairs has me craving connection and community. I want to connect with people, both people I know and people I don’t yet know. I want to learn more about my neighbors, reach out and lend an ear or hand to people who need it. I wasn’t completely sure what that looked like for a long time. As an introvert, I tend to like the smaller events and I can only attend so many rallies before I am tapped out. As I tried to figure out what my contribution would look like, all my ideas kept coming back to food.
Food is a topic that always seems to break down walls and get people to connect. Not just eating it, but talking about favorite recipes and favorite meals. It is a place where we can all easily find a connection. In this tumultuous time when many things have divided us, food is an easy focus to help bring us together. Nothing gets people talking like a meal around a table, smores around the fire pit or chili cook-off at work.
Ideas to inspire your own connections
- go out to dinner
- take a cooking class
- volunteer at a food based nonprofit
- make jam or preserves
- attend or host a food swap
- listen
- make a special holiday dinner
- host a potluck
- bake for the neighbors
- start a garden
- raise chickens
- visit a farm
- have a pie bake-off
- teach someone to cook
- take me out to a ballgame
- make dinner together
- create a new food tradition
- watch a food movie
- learn about other holidays
- meet the grocery store manager
- visit the farmers market
