Growing up in an Italian household, there is no community without food. The smells of my grandmother's cooking fill the house during holidays, what’s on the menu is always the first thought on my mother’s mind when throwing a party, and the amount of food made is always twice that of the number of people present. Throughout my childhood, food was at the center of every gathering. And so I wonder, is it the same for others?
Obviously, the best part about food is how it tastes, but another central aspect of food is its ability to bring people together. Sharing food, or the experience of eating, allows us to connect with one another, breaking down barriers and creating shared experiences. My fondest memories stem from the dining room table, seated around with my family as we ate our dinner and shared stories from our days.
But what happens to that sense of connectedness when family is not around as often? Can food still foster belonging? I believe the answer is yes. Food is an expression of culture, love, passion, ideas, self-expression, and it is something that all people can relate to. No matter where you may be, or where you are from, food can act as a binding force bringing a variety of people around one table to share a moment.
Now that I live at college, I am experiencing life outside of my family’s borders. This has caused me to face the loss of the community in which I was raised. Thankfully, I still have food as a common denominator. I have learned that food has the ability to bond across cultures. Whether you are Italian, Filipino, Japanese, or Latin American, food has similar meaning and importance and can serve as a way to bridge differences. Here are a few ways in which food can foster belonging while at college:
Potlucks
Courtesy of Georgiana LaRocca
The holiday season is upon us, so it’s a good idea to use it as the theme for your next potluck! Potlucks serve as a way of connecting cultures and traditions through one singular concept: food. At a potluck, everyone brings a prepared dish to share with everyone else, allowing for a variety of meals from a variety of people. It fosters a sense of togetherness, allowing people to share their culinary traditions through the contributions of different dishes, uniting people through the act of eating together and sharing what nourishes us. I love attending potlucks, as they allow me to experience different cultures and ideas through trying different dishes. It provides a way to connect with my peers through a shared desire to try something new
Shared Meals
Courtesy of Georgiana LaRocca
Grab your friends and head to the dining hall for a shared meal. Whether it's at 10 a.m. or 6 p.m., eating together with your friends strengthens relationships and builds connections. After a long day of classes, it is nice to connect with your friends over a shared meal, creating memories and recounting stories from the day. Food also can create conversation starters, giving people something to talk about. When you eat with others, you can foster a sense of belonging within a large university. You might even try to order food to share family style. There are few, if any, things like food that can create an atmosphere in which friends can feel like family sharing a communal bonding.
Trying New Meals
Courtesy of Georgiana LaRocca
Food is an expression of culture, it is a tangible representation of people’s histories, values, and traditions. Food allows people to experience different cultures without having to speak the same language. Opening yourself up to new cultural dishes can bridge gaps and foster inclusion. In New York especially, there are restaurants of all different ethnicities and backgrounds, creating the perfect setting for you to open yourself up to a variety of food groups. By trying different cultural cuisines, you are learning about different ways of life that you might not have experienced otherwise, and you gain insight into what shaped your friends’ tastes and outlooks. Food, and sharing a meal, provides a bridge connecting cultural differences.
Food is much more than what is put on your plate. It is a way to create memories and build a community. No matter where you are, food has the ability to gather people around one table. It is that community that can bring us all together. Food provides nourishment to both your body and soul. Dig in!
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