As we have all witnessed, 2020 will forever be a year like no other. We’ve gone through so many hardships: losing loved ones to the pandemic, social isolation, confusions about safety and health, and the list goes on. As teenagers, we may feel powerless, alone, or even depressed. During a period of such uncertainty, a way for many of us to cope is to eat. Food can bring comfort and familiarity, especially in times like this. Ari and I thought it would be nice to show you guys how we personally use food to cope and reveal what some of you guys had to say on our Instagram!
Izzy:
Ari and I believe that it’s so important for our articles to be raw and true to how we live and think, so that’s exactly what I’m aiming to do. I know many people, especially our age, have struggled with some kind of eating disorder. I’m not a doctor, so I wouldn’t want to diagnose myself with something so serious, but I never worried about what I ate until the beginning of quarantine. I used to eat whatever I wanted whenever I wanted, but as a normal insecure teenage girl, I began to grow insecure about my body. Scrolling through Instagram, TikTok, etc. I was always surrounded by beautiful girls with “perfect” bodies. Food became the enemy to me, and the less I ate, the more accomplished I felt. No matter how much I craved it, I felt like it was so bad for me and would chug gallons of water until I didn’t feel hungry. When I went out with friends and ate the foods my body secretly craved, I would be overwhelmed with guilt and disappointment.
Even though I was able to lose weight, I felt weaker and more powerless than ever. The worst days I had were when I would eat barely anything throughout the day then binge my heart out at night when my family was asleep. I’d sneak downstairs and eat anything within my field of vision. This was not healthy, and I knew it in my heart, but the figure I saw in the mirror scolded me for not being “strong” enough to persist. It wasn’t until I talked to my parents about it where I realized how much self-love and confidence I lacked.
Food should NEVER be the enemy: it fuels your body, so that you can go out and do the things you love. Food isn’t just something that keeps your body running: food is family; food is friends; food is love; food is power. Although I believe it’s important for people to incorporate healthy foods into their lifestyles, it’s okay to eat the foods you love. Eating “too much” doesn’t make you weak, it makes you human. Food has brought me closer with the people I love, and I realize now how truly important it is to me. It makes me feel happy when I’m upset, and I think that’s really powerful. For me, a food that has and always will bring me comfort is my grandmother’s stir-fried udon noodles. It brings me so many great childhood memories, and the warmth and amazing flavor of the noodles and vegetables never fails to make me feel like everything will be okay.
Ari:
When it comes to food, I believe that the key to having a good relationship with it is all about balance. This goes for a lot of things in life, but especially food. I’m grateful that I’ve never viewed food in a negative light, but instead as a symbol of a root of all connections I have with the important people in my life.
Due to the lockdown in March, my mom left quarantine with a new found love of cooking. She’s watched countless Youtube videos and has read numerous books on how to eat healthier. As a result, my family has shifted to eating much more organically and plant based. My mom has now taught me a lot about nutrition, and I’ve learned to be more conscious about what I put into my body. I’ve seen the smile and pure joy on my moms face when she’s trying out new recipes, and how eager she is to share these new meals with my entire family. She’s always asking for our input on seasoning, and gets a kick out of making every family meal engaging and fun.
I’ve also realized that food is a symbol of the relationships in my life after thinking about a movie I watched as a child: Matilda. There is a scene in the movie that always seemed to stay in the back of my mind. One night, the entire family is huddled around the television, and they each have a “TV Dinner” as they sit in individual chairs and glue their eyes to the screen. They eat in silence, and don’t talk to one another. They simply sit among each other and watch the show on the screen. As a child, I envied Matilda. Her family left her alone, she didn’t have to talk to anyone, all she had to do was eat in peace and watch her favorite show. As I’ve grown older though, I now understand that having the opportunity to properly sit down, chat, and eat a meal with my family nearly every night is a privilege that I will no longer take for granted. Each person in my family, like any other, has individual, packed schedules. Because of this, sometimes the only time I talk to the other people in my household is when we’re all forced to sit down and eat a meal. For so long, I dreaded this, which seems really insensitive to me now. I’ve come to learn that food connects people and brings others together. In fact, 9 times out of 10 when I hang out with a friend, we get food and talk.
Now, for my actual comfort food. I love sushi. I love mashed potatoes and steak. I love Italian food. I have an obsession with Goldfish crackers if that counts. I love a lot of food! But without a doubt, a homemade Korean meal by my mom is my personal favorite comfort food. The taste of Korean beef short ribs and rice, among other side dishes, will always make me feel at home.
Here’s what you guys had to say:
Heather Schein: Sushi
Armaan Tewary: Ramen because it’s warm and easy to eat!
Anja Husemann: Soup because it warms you up!
Sonal Sharma: Pizza because it hits the spot.
Tala Areiqat: Orange chicken. I always get it when I order Chinese with friends!
Meilin Sharma: Takis.
Nevaeh Galluccio: Kraft Mac n Cheese because it tastes really good.
Catalina Cecoltan: Taco.
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