Kids lined up twenty deep in anticipation of the annual spaghetti dinner the night before their all-city swim meet. Large pans held spaghetti, red sauce with fresh basil, alfredo sauce, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. At the end of the line, more platters from parents held delicious desserts, fruits and bread to mop up any leftover sauce. 

Sure, the annual spaghetti dinner is billed as the perfect “fuel” or carbo load pre-event meal, but it’s much more than that. 

It’s about the kids celebrating their hard work all season. 
It’s about parents celebrating that they don’t have to convince their kids to get out of bed early in the morning and into a (sometimes very cold) pool. 
It’s about the joy of being together as a team and community. 
It’s about the pleasure that a good meal brings. 
It’s about tradition because every kid and parent I know looks forward to this event.

Food isn’t just about...

Well, it's hard to believe we made it to the end of 2020. 

It's certainly been *a year*. 

Today is the shortest day meaning it's the longest and darkest night. Seems appropriate for where we are in the pandemic....growing numbers of cases and deaths. These certainly feel like the darkest of days, but there's hope ahead. 

My hope for you is that you find small ways to celebrate with whoever you're with this holiday season. Enjoy this unique chance to have a blank slate to create a different, yet meaningful way to celebrate this year. Keep the spirit of the season alive with stories, food and small traditions. 

When you enjoy your food this holiday season, remember that there's a constant ebb and flow of hunger and fullness and there's no arrival at a perfect level of hunger. Challenge yourself to enjoy your food with intention and to invite all of your senses to participate in the pleasurable experience of eating....touch, taste, sight and smell. Being able to be...