My Food Story

Food has always had a strong presence in my life, but my relationship with food has developed and transformed throughout the past 22 years. As far back as I can remember my mother has always been a stellar cook. Despite working full time, my mother always ensured that we had a delicious home cooked meal to look forward to every night. Gathering around the table and eating as a family has always been a ritual in my home. Even though my brother and I had very busy schedules, packed with various sports, clubs, and other activities, my parents always made a point of setting the table and eating as a family. From birthday cakes, to Thanksgiving dinner’s, to special surprise pancakes, food in my family has always been more than just nutritional necessity. It has always been a way to bring together family, express gratitude, and share love. Reminiscing, I began to realize that food is always in the background of some of my most precious memories and cherished family gatherings.

Beyond sharing food with each other, my family has always had an appreciation for really good food. My mother’s spaghetti sauce recipe has been so perfected that my brother refuses to eat any store bought tomato sauce. My grandmother has even written and published her own cookbook, complete with recipes from all six of her children. Knowing how to cook, and how to cook well is a requirement in my family.

In the past, my relationship with food was defined by taste and whom I had the pleasure of sharing my meals with. When I started school at the University of Florida my relationship with food began to change. For the first time in my life I wouldn’t be eating my mother’s fabulous meals and sitting down with my family, sharing our days. I quickly realized that food eaten alone is much less enjoyable than food shared in good company. In my first semester I joined a sorority on campus. Meals were served at the house on the week days, and thankfully brought that that community to food that I craved.

As I continued taking classes, my interest in food studies increased. By my sophomore year I decided to completely change my course of study and changed my major to Food and Resource Economics. I began to look at food in a whole new light. From a micro perspective of what components were going into the food we ate, to the macro view of the various food systems we belong to, everything about food fascinated me. Throughout my college career I have enjoyed learning about food on a national and international scale. For the first time I was putting thought into food sustainability, rather than just food quality.

I am very excited about continuing my food education next year as I will finish my Master’s of Science in Agribusiness at the University of Florida. Upon graduation I hope to find a job that will combine my passion of good tasting food with food that is good, just, and sustainable.

-Sarah Holley