The Meals That Made Me

When I look back at some of my favorite memories, food is almost always at the center. Not because of the recipes themselves, but because of the moments and people tied to them.

Every Christmas morning, without fail, my mom made an egg bake, cinnamon rolls, and my grandma’s favorite — orange Danish. It wasn’t just breakfast; it was a tradition that smelled like home and signaled the start of a special day.

Birthdays were just as memorable. My siblings and I all had birthdays within three weeks of each other, and each of us got to choose a dinner spot to celebrate. Without fail, we all picked the same place: Benihana. That meant hibachi three times in three weeks (much to my parents’ reluctance). But as a kid, the onion volcano and flying shrimp never lost their magic.

After soccer games, it was always Baskin Robbins. Win or lose, nothing hit quite like an ice cream cone after running around the field. And Sundays? Those were for brunch at a little Greek breakfast spot with my grandparents — giant omelets and endless stories across the table.

Here’s the thing: we live in a culture that loves to make food complicated. Rules, restrictions, labels — eat this, don’t eat that. And yes, our health matters, but food is so much more than fuel. It’s memory, tradition, connection. It has the power to bring people together, to create rituals, and to turn ordinary moments into lifelong stories.

Maybe we don’t need to be so rigid all the time. Maybe the real “healthy relationship” with food is one that leaves space for the egg bakes, the hibachi dinners, the post-game ice cream cones, and the Sunday brunches that feed our souls just as much as our bodies.

So, I’ll leave you with this: What meals made you? What foods instantly take you back to a moment, a person, or a season of life you’ll never forget?

XO,
Coach Caroline