Cook, Eat, Love, Repeat: Cassidy Reminded Me Why Food Feels Like Love
Cassidy and Gabrielle reminded me how powerful sharing a meal can be. From my spaghetti-only childhood to foodie adulthood, food has always been about love, connection, and the little moments that bring us closer to the ones who matter most.
I was a very, VERY picky eater as a kid. All I wanted to eat was spaghetti. If I was presented with anything other than red spaghetti, I would simply not eat. This trend continued well into my teens, but everything changed when I turned 17 and went to live in Australia as an exchange student for six months.
During my time in Brisbane, I slowly started to become a foodie and fell in love with food in general. Japanese chicken curry, fried calamari, all kinds of pastas and sandwiches, every type of tea, different kinds of meat and seafood. My eyes had been opened to the magical and wonderful world of great food. Aaaand of course, I started to gain weight very quickly.
I was incredibly happy back then, so my weight didn’t change my self-image, my happiness, or my excitement when it came to going to a restaurant and eating good food.
I’m talking about this because watching today’s {THE AND} episode, The Mirror of Love Between Mother and Daughter featuring Cassidy and Gabrielle, I couldn’t help but agree with little Cassidy when she mentions that she feels closest to her mom when they’re cooking and eating together.
There’s a great quote I’ve come across several times that says:
“When you choose a life partner, you're choosing your eating companion for about 40,000 meals, the person that is going to influence your kids the most, your travel companion for about 100 vacations, your retirement friend, your career therapist, and someone whose day you'll hear about 18,000 times.”
And it is SO TRUE. I find myself having the same feelings Cassidy does, but with my husband. One of my favorite things to do with him is share a meal, whether we’re ordering fast food while watching TV in our PJs on a Sunday, or getting fully dressed up to go out to a nice restaurant. I absolutely adore the experience of eating together. I find it incredibly intimate, caring, and joyful. It almost feels sacred.
Now, as a young adult, I’m a full-blown cravings person. I have them all the time and for all kinds of food: Korean noodles, Japanese curry, sushi, fried rice, pasta, fries, anything potato, carnitas, tacos, seafood, barbecue, EVERYTHING. I’m a food lover through and through, and nothing compares to the joy of sharing a meal with someone you love.
Some of my favorite foods in the whole world: Tamales, potatoes, rice and beans and BBQ!
Watching Cassidy and Gabrielle reminded me of that truth. That food isn't just food. It's connection. It’s laughter around the dinner table, hands reaching for the same last dumpling, and stories told between bites. It’s those little moments that feel ordinary but end up shaping who we are and how we love.
The Mirror of Love Between Mother and Daughter | {THE AND} + Little Spoon: Cassidy & Gabrielle
So whether you're a picky eater, a foodie, a home cook, or a takeout regular, today’s video is a beautiful reminder that the bonds we form over shared meals often become the foundation for the relationships we cherish most.
With love,
Regina Zuniga
The Skin Deep Digital Content Specialist
