HOW WE CONNECT
In dishes prepared and memories shared,
food is more than sustenance.
Throughout kitchens, dorms, churches and homes, six stories reveal how food means more than just a necessity of life — it is building communities, providing for others and bonding with family. Though it may take different forms, one thing remains the same: food is how we connect.

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the Three Stories:

Building Communities

Providing for Others

Bonding with Family

BUILDING COMMUNITIES

A micro-homesteader builds communities of chickens, goats and meat rabbits, giving her the “power to choose” what she and her family uses as nutrition. Co-ministers, who double as husband and wife, partake in communion alongside the congregation at church.

PROVIDING FOR OTHERS

The owner of local steakhouse Hickory & Oak provides for his customers and family through his career in the culinary industry. A Western Kentucky University student prepares her popular applesauce muffins in her dorm kitchen, sharing them with her friends.

BONDING WITH FAMILY

A 70-year-old woman keeps her late mother’s memories alive through an old recipe passed down titled the “Lazy Man’s Cobbler.” Three young sisters play alongside another in their very own “prairie kitchen,” while also helping their mother make breakfast in the real kitchen.

Laughter can be heard from a group of sisters playing “prairie” outside as their imaginations run free, while across town, a woman’s cobbler bakes in the oven just like it did when she was growing up. In moments like these, whether memories made or remembered, food can become closely associated with strong and powerful emotions. Science and psychology can help explain why these moments bring these feelings.


According to a 2022 report from Harvard Health Publishing, 95% of the neurotransmitter serotonin is produced in the gastrointestinal tract, and it also plays a role in appetite, mood, sleep and pain.


“The inner workings of your digestive system don’t just help you digest food, but also guide your emotions,” Dr. Eva Selhub wrote in the report.


Dr. Rick Grieve, a Western Kentucky University Professor of Psychology, said he thinks that “food plays a major role” in maintaining as well as reminding people of their connections. Grieve, who has worked in the field of psychology for nearly 30 years, has been involved in food-related topics since the mid-1990s.


“If smell brings us back to old memories, we know that smell and taste are highly correlated,” Grieve said. “So, I have to think that taste would also bring us back to those old childhood memories as well, maybe not as strongly as odor, but I think it’s still going to have the same type of process.”


Along with the senses and memories associated, Grieve said that “food is inherently pleasurable.” He said that the first reinforcement is a feeling that the food tastes good, which in turn causes dopamine, and the second reinforcement is that food is paired with events that bring pleasure.

“
“It [food] serves as a way for us to get out with other people, to make those connections and to have a reason to be together.”
— Dr. Rick Grieve

6 in 10 Americans surveyed describe their relationship with food as being positive.


— The 2024 International Food Information Council Food & Health Survey

Despite the connection that exists between people and food, Grieve said that “over the years, we’ve seen a decrease in the number of social connections that we have.”


“I think food can serve as a, for lack of a better term, a social lubricant, much like alcohol,” Grieve said. “I think that food can be that agent that helps us increase connections there.”


Even with social connections being at a low, Grieve said he does think that food can help strengthen them. Three ways this can occur are through bonding with family, providing for others and building communities as showcased in the stories of Teresa Kimbel, the Aldridge family, Joshua Poling, Clara Monfette, Miranda Shipley Brooker and the Bruce’s.

Building Communities
A micro-homesteader builds communities of chickens, goats and meat rabbits, giving her the “power to choose” what she and her family uses as nutrition. Co-ministers, who double as husband and wife, partake in communion alongside the congregation at church.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque a sodales nulla. Sed dapibus, leo id maximus pretium, sem magna congue augue, non porta ante turpis ac risus. Donec scelerisque elit a metus sollicitudin, nec commodo metus faucibus. Ut ac diam non justo sagittis bibendum eu nec enim. In quis diam id eros vehicula convallis a id orci.


Pellentesque vel sapien gravida, luctus tortor eget, lacinia quam. Integer euismod magna tortor, sed euismod ex feugiat vel. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Phasellus elementum consequat congue. Proin eleifend nisi nec lectus luctus porttitor eget quis arcu. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos.

“
Quote.
— Miranda Shipley Brooker

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque a sodales nulla. Sed dapibus, leo id maximus pretium, sem magna congue augue, non porta ante turpis ac risus. Donec scelerisque elit a metus sollicitudin, nec commodo metus faucibus. Ut ac diam non justo sagittis bibendum eu nec enim. In quis diam id eros vehicula convallis a id orci.


Pellentesque vel sapien gravida, luctus tortor eget, lacinia quam. Integer euismod magna tortor, sed euismod ex feugiat vel. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Phasellus elementum consequat congue. Proin eleifend nisi nec lectus luctus porttitor eget quis arcu. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per himenaeos.

“
Quote.
— Jeff Bruce

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque a sodales nulla. Sed dapibus, leo id maximus pretium, sem magna congue augue, non porta ante turpis ac risus. Donec scelerisque elit a metus sollicitudin, nec commodo metus faucibus. Ut ac diam non justo sagittis bibendum eu nec enim. In quis diam id eros vehicula convallis a id orci.


Pellentesque vel sapien gravida, luctus tortor eget, lacinia quam. Integer euismod magna tortor, sed euismod ex feugiat vel. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Phasellus elementum consequat congue. Proin eleifend nisi nec lectus luctus porttitor eget quis arcu. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per himenaeos.



Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque a sodales nulla. Sed dapibus, leo id maximus pretium, sem magna congue augue, non porta ante turpis ac risus.


Donec scelerisque elit a metus sollicitudin, nec commodo metus faucibus. Ut ac diam non justo sagittis bibendum eu nec enim. In quis diam id eros vehicula convallis a id orci.


Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque a sodales nulla. Sed dapibus, leo id maximus pretium, sem magna congue augue, non porta ante turpis ac risus.


Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque a sodales nulla. Sed dapibus, leo id maximus pretium, sem magna congue augue, non porta ante turpis ac risus. Donec scelerisque elit a metus sollicitudin, nec commodo metus faucibus. Ut ac diam non justo sagittis bibendum eu nec enim. In quis diam id eros vehicula convallis a id orci.


Pellentesque vel sapien gravida, luctus tortor eget, lacinia quam. Integer euismod magna tortor, sed euismod ex feugiat vel. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Phasellus elementum consequat congue. Proin eleifend nisi nec lectus luctus porttitor eget quis arcu. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per himenaeos.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque a sodales nulla. Sed dapibus, leo id maximus pretium, sem magna congue augue, non porta ante turpis ac risus. Donec scelerisque elit a metus sollicitudin, nec commodo metus faucibus. Ut ac diam non justo sagittis bibendum eu nec enim. In quis diam id eros vehicula convallis a id orci.


Pellentesque vel sapien gravida, luctus tortor eget, lacinia quam. Integer euismod magna tortor, sed euismod ex feugiat vel. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Phasellus elementum consequat congue. Proin eleifend nisi nec lectus luctus porttitor eget quis arcu. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per himenaeos.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque a sodales nulla. Sed dapibus, leo id maximus pretium, sem magna congue augue, non porta ante turpis ac risus. Donec scelerisque elit a metus sollicitudin, nec commodo metus faucibus. Ut ac diam non justo sagittis bibendum eu nec enim. In quis diam id eros vehicula convallis a id orci.


Pellentesque vel sapien gravida, luctus tortor eget, lacinia quam. Integer euismod magna tortor, sed euismod ex feugiat vel. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Phasellus elementum consequat congue. Proin eleifend nisi nec lectus luctus porttitor eget quis arcu. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per himenaeos.

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Providing for Others
The owner of local steakhouse Hickory & Oak provides for his customers and family through his career in the culinary industry. A Western Kentucky University student prepares her popular applesauce muffins in her dorm kitchen, sharing them with her friends.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque a sodales nulla. Sed dapibus, leo id maximus pretium, sem magna congue augue, non porta ante turpis ac risus. Donec scelerisque elit a metus sollicitudin, nec commodo metus faucibus. Ut ac diam non justo sagittis bibendum eu nec enim. In quis diam id eros vehicula convallis a id orci.


Pellentesque vel sapien gravida, luctus tortor eget, lacinia quam. Integer euismod magna tortor, sed euismod ex feugiat vel. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Phasellus elementum consequat congue. Proin eleifend nisi nec lectus luctus porttitor eget quis arcu. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque a sodales nulla. Sed dapibus, leo id maximus pretium, sem magna congue augue, non porta ante turpis ac risus. Donec scelerisque elit a metus sollicitudin, nec commodo metus faucibus.


Ut ac diam non justo sagittis bibendum eu nec enim. In quis diam id eros vehicula convallis a id orci. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque a sodales nulla. Sed dapibus, leo id maximus pretium, sem magna congue augue, non.


“
Quote.
— Joshua Poling
Restaurants per Capita Map
Restaurants per 10k People:
Source: Caliper Corporation. “Maptitude restaurant density by state map.” https://www.caliper.com/featured-maps/maptitude-restaurant-density-by-state-map.html

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque a sodales nulla. Sed dapibus, leo id maximus pretium, sem magna congue augue, non porta ante turpis ac risus. Donec scelerisque elit a metus sollicitudin, nec commodo metus faucibus. Ut ac diam non justo sagittis bibendum eu nec enim. In quis diam id eros vehicula convallis a id orci.


Pellentesque vel sapien gravida, luctus tortor eget, lacinia quam. Integer euismod magna tortor, sed euismod ex feugiat vel. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Phasellus elementum consequat congue. Proin eleifend nisi nec lectus luctus porttitor eget quis arcu. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per himenaeos.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque a sodales nulla. Sed dapibus, leo id maximus pretium, sem magna congue augue, non porta ante turpis ac risus. Donec scelerisque elit a metus sollicitudin, nec commodo metus faucibus. Ut ac diam non justo sagittis bibendum eu nec enim. In quis diam id eros vehicula convallis a id orci.


Pellentesque vel sapien gravida, luctus tortor eget, lacinia quam. Integer euismod magna tortor, sed euismod ex feugiat vel. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Phasellus elementum consequat congue. Proin eleifend nisi nec lectus luctus porttitor eget quis arcu. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per himenaeos.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque a sodales nulla. Sed dapibus, leo id maximus pretium, sem magna congue augue, non porta ante turpis ac risus. Donec scelerisque elit a metus sollicitudin, nec commodo metus faucibus. Ut ac diam non justo sagittis bibendum eu nec enim. In quis diam id eros vehicula convallis a id orci.


Pellentesque vel sapien gravida, luctus tortor eget, lacinia quam. Integer euismod magna tortor, sed euismod ex feugiat vel. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Phasellus elementum consequat congue. Proin eleifend nisi nec lectus luctus porttitor eget quis arcu. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per himenaeos.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque a sodales nulla. Sed dapibus, leo id maximus pretium, sem magna congue augue, non porta ante turpis ac risus. Donec scelerisque elit a metus sollicitudin, nec commodo metus faucibus. Ut ac diam non justo sagittis bibendum eu nec enim. In quis diam id eros vehicula convallis a id orci.


Pellentesque vel sapien gravida, luctus tortor eget, lacinia quam. Integer euismod magna tortor, sed euismod ex feugiat vel. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Phasellus elementum consequat congue. Proin eleifend nisi nec lectus luctus porttitor eget quis arcu. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per himenaeos.

“
Quote.
— Clara Monfette

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque a sodales nulla. Sed dapibus, leo id maximus pretium, sem magna congue augue, non porta ante turpis ac risus. Donec scelerisque elit a metus sollicitudin, nec commodo metus faucibus. Ut ac diam non justo sagittis bibendum eu nec enim. In quis diam id eros vehicula convallis a id orci.


Pellentesque vel sapien gravida, luctus tortor eget, lacinia quam. Integer euismod magna tortor, sed euismod ex feugiat vel. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Phasellus elementum consequat congue. Proin eleifend nisi nec lectus luctus porttitor eget quis arcu. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per himenaeos.

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Bonding with Family
A 70-year-old woman keeps her late mother’s memories alive through an old recipe passed down titled the “Lazy Man’s Cobbler.” Three young sisters play alongside another in their very own “prairie kitchen,” while also helping their mother make breakfast in the real kitchen.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque a sodales nulla. Sed dapibus, leo id maximus pretium, sem magna congue augue, non porta ante turpis ac risus. Donec scelerisque elit a metus sollicitudin, nec commodo metus faucibus. Ut ac diam non justo sagittis bibendum eu nec enim. In quis diam id eros vehicula convallis a id orci.


Pellentesque vel sapien gravida, luctus tortor eget, lacinia quam. Integer euismod magna tortor, sed euismod ex feugiat vel. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Phasellus elementum consequat congue. Proin eleifend nisi nec lectus luctus porttitor eget quis arcu. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos.

“
Quote.
— Teresa Kimbel

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque a sodales nulla. Sed dapibus, leo id maximus pretium, sem magna congue augue, non porta ante turpis ac risus. Donec scelerisque elit a metus sollicitudin, nec commodo metus faucibus. Ut ac diam non justo sagittis bibendum eu nec enim. In quis diam id eros vehicula convallis a id orci.


Pellentesque vel sapien gravida, luctus tortor eget, lacinia quam. Integer euismod magna tortor, sed euismod ex feugiat vel. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Phasellus elementum consequat congue. Proin eleifend nisi nec lectus luctus porttitor eget quis arcu. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque a sodales nulla. Sed dapibus, leo id maximus pretium, sem magna congue augue, non porta ante turpis ac risus. Donec scelerisque elit a metus sollicitudin, nec commodo metus faucibus. Ut ac diam non justo sagittis bibendum eu nec enim. In quis diam id eros vehicula convallis a id orci.


Pellentesque vel sapien gravida, luctus tortor eget, lacinia quam. Integer euismod magna tortor, sed euismod ex feugiat vel. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Phasellus elementum consequat congue. Proin eleifend nisi nec lectus luctus porttitor eget quis arcu. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque a sodales nulla. Sed dapibus, leo id maximus pretium, sem magna congue augue, non porta ante turpis ac risus. Donec scelerisque elit a metus sollicitudin, nec commodo metus faucibus. Ut ac diam non justo sagittis bibendum eu nec enim. In quis diam id eros vehicula convallis a id orci.


Pellentesque vel sapien gravida, luctus tortor eget, lacinia quam. Integer euismod magna tortor, sed euismod ex feugiat vel. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Phasellus elementum consequat congue. Proin eleifend nisi nec lectus luctus porttitor eget quis arcu. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque a sodales nulla. Sed dapibus, leo id maximus pretium, sem magna congue augue, non porta ante turpis ac risus. Donec scelerisque elit a metus sollicitudin, nec commodo metus faucibus. Ut ac diam non justo sagittis bibendum eu nec enim. In quis diam id eros vehicula convallis a id orci.


Pellentesque vel sapien gravida, luctus tortor eget, lacinia quam. Integer euismod magna tortor, sed euismod ex feugiat vel. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Phasellus elementum consequat congue. Proin eleifend nisi nec lectus luctus porttitor eget quis arcu. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos.

“
Quote.
— Lucy Aldridge

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque a sodales nulla. Sed dapibus, leo id maximus pretium, sem magna congue augue, non porta ante turpis ac risus. Donec scelerisque elit a metus sollicitudin, nec commodo metus faucibus. Ut ac diam non justo sagittis bibendum eu nec enim. In quis diam id eros vehicula convallis a id orci.


Pellentesque vel sapien gravida, luctus tortor eget, lacinia quam. Integer euismod magna tortor, sed euismod ex feugiat vel. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Phasellus elementum consequat congue. Proin eleifend nisi nec lectus luctus porttitor eget quis arcu. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per himenaeos.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque a sodales nulla. Sed dapibus, leo id maximus pretium, sem magna congue augue, non porta ante turpis ac risus. Donec scelerisque elit a metus sollicitudin, nec commodo metus faucibus. Ut ac diam non justo sagittis bibendum eu nec enim. In quis diam id eros vehicula convallis a id orci.


Pellentesque vel sapien gravida, luctus tortor eget, lacinia quam. Integer euismod magna tortor, sed euismod ex feugiat vel. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Phasellus elementum consequat congue. Proin eleifend nisi nec lectus luctus porttitor eget quis arcu. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per himenaeos.

"It [food] really do makes you love each other."

— Teresa Kimbel

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