Food can mean many different things to the same person.

For example, the snack that you take on a hike is likely to be little more than fuel for the journey, whereas the dish you prepare for a family potluck is there to be enjoyed, and may even come with a fun backstory. The high-protein, high-fiber miracle recipe that you found on TikTok is there to convince yourself that you are capable of being healthy occasionally, and the impulsive drive-thru order is just because you deserve a treat now and then. There are many different kinds of meals.

Something that we can never get away from is that every single thing we choose to consume has a narrative behind it. While some may be a lot more compelling than others, that doesn’t make the more forgettable meals any less important. They all play a part in keeping us functioning (or putting us into a food coma, one mouthful at a time). Not only that, but they also inform the opinions and knowledge that we have about food. Even just understanding how long we have to put something in the air fryer counts as deepening that relationship.

As well as this, we have to argue that having a sense of humor really helps us enjoy our food more. Not everything we do in the kitchen is going to be a resounding success, but if we can laugh about that, we can maintain a healthier and happier relationship with what we eat. More than anything, we should be able to have fun with it.