My Top 3 is a weekly post where I count down three things I love in a random category. This week, we’re looking my top three things I’ve eaten.

Sometimes, food is memory. I have fond thoughts of spiral Kraft mac and cheese and Crystal Pepsi from my youth. Christmas Eve dinner is entangled with recollections of appetizer spreads and A Christmas Story. College combines with happiness from shared boxes of cheap Domino’s pizza (pineapple and pepperoni, please!). Food is so much more than just ingredients on a plate. It’s often how we build connections and community with others.

Eating engages all of our senses. It can also be inherently tied to a place or time. That means we wrap emotions around particular meals. When I remember specific things I’ve eaten, it’s not just about the food. It’s about where I was, who I was with, and what was happening at the time. Enjoying food goes beyond satisfying our hunger - it's an experience that can leave an indelible mark on our lives.

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