Food is more than just fuel - it’s a bridge that connects us to people, ties us to culture and brings us closer to family and friends. From family dinners that become lifelong memories, to recipes passed down through generations and the pride that comes from mastering a new dish, food shapes the way we connect, celebrate and express ourselves.
Think about your own food memories. Maybe it’s the Summertime barbeque with extended family, the smell of your grandmother’s roast chicken wafting through her house, or the pure satisfaction of perfecting a risotto. These aren’t just meals - they’re moments steeped in memory.
Remembering food’s deeper role can change not only what we eat, but also how we relate to ourselves and others.
We live in a world where food is often judged solely for its nutritional value. Plus, we are constantly bombarded with toxic messages that promote restrictive diets and food fear, overshadowing the true joy that food can provide.
Men, in particular, are increasingly caught up in diet culture, which harms both body and mind. To reclaim food as a positive force, we must challenge these harmful narratives and embrace the joy of eating.
Enjoyment matters just as much as nutrition, because without pleasure, even the most well-balanced diet is unsustainable. As a dietitian, I understand this intimately.
Yet, when I was a child, food rarely brought me joy. Instead, it was an emotional crutch and eating the 'wrong' foods led to deep feelings of regret and shame. I also learnt to count calories before my teens and used exercise as punishment to undo my food choices. I felt completely out of control around food and those feelings were crippling.
Rediscovery came in my twenties. I started cooking with friends, sharing meals that were messy, delicious and fun and learning that food could be about joy and laughter as much as nourishment. It was a turning point; proof that eating without fear or guilt could be liberating.
My relationship with food continued to evolve when I came to understand the deeper and multilayered role that food played in my clients’ lives. While food can impact our health, it also forms part of the rich tapestry of our lives.
Now, as a parent, I don’t want my kids to have the same fears about food I harboured as a child and young adult. Of course, health matters, but so do joy, connection and culture. I’m doing my utmost to instil this love and appreciation for food in my kids.
Personally, I’m cherishing the Summertime ice creams, homemade muffins (including baking messes), picnics and fish and chip dinners by the beach. I hope they are, too!
So, what steps can you take to improve your relationship with food?
Reclaiming a healthier, more nuanced approach starts with small, intentional choices. For example, recreating a cherished relative’s recipe for Sunday lunch or a special occasion honours the emotional value of food.
Doing so can foster confidence in our eating habits, strengthen our connections with others and celebrate the cultural stories that food carries. Every meal then becomes more than just nourishment - it becomes an opportunity to live fully, joyfully and without fear or negativity.
Additionally, we can start by making peace with food and abandoning rigid rules. Food isn’t ‘good’ or ‘bad’ - it’s simply food. What really matters is the meaning we attach to it: fun, comfort, connection, pleasure.
A slice of birthday cake at your child’s party can be as much about celebration as sweetness, just as a home-cooked meal can be about love as much as flavour. The words we use around food matter too, because when we speak about it with curiosity and joy instead of judgment, eating becomes something to appreciate.
Food plays a truly instrumental role in our lives and should be celebrated in all its wonderful forms. It sparks memories, fuels conversation, connects us to our culture and transports us to the other side of the world, one bite at a time - whether that’s Nonna’s spaghetti Bolognese handed down through generations, or eating pad Thai that instantly takes you back to your first trip to Thailand. That's a pretty special feat that is often overlooked.
It’s time to shift our perspective and welcome food as a source of pleasure. When we appreciate food for enjoyment, connection and wellbeing, it becomes much more meaningful.
I invite you to celebrate the richness of food and rediscover connection through the joy of cooking and eating. Start today: choose one meaningful meal to share or prepare this week and allow it to strengthen your connections and create lasting memories.
Doing so is truly worth savouring - every bite, every memory, every connection.
