Last summer I spent six weeks living in Rome, Italy – my first major foray into food studies. Before classes began, I spent a week getting reacquainted with the city that I love so much. Here are some excerpts from that time.

If you ask a woman what she loves about her body, she will likely name one or two minor things – she has long eyelashes or shiny hair. If you ask a woman to name what she hates about her body – well, the conversation can go on ad nauseam. Let’s end that. Let’s stop the negative chatter about our bodies. Let’s change the conversation – because there are so much more life to live than what we limit ourselves to.

In a world where we are all busy and life goes by too fast, how do we give slow food a go? How do we give time to what goes into our bellies, when there are so many convenient and quick options out there? How do we sit down together, put down our phones and just enjoy each other’s company? Here is one take on how to start.

Funerals can serve not only as a stark reminder of our own mortality, but also as an opportunity to reflect on the importance of those closest to us, especially if our memories are all that remains of a beloved relationship. A reminder to cherish what we love most – both when we have it and after it has left us.