Throughout my life, my mother showed her love for me through making yummy foods and teaching me traditional dishes that are made in our family. My mom always makes matzah ball soup for our family for passover, and has a secret recipe that I am not allowed to see until I am hosting passover seders as an adult.

Showing love through food is a very typical expression of care in Jewish families, as many of our ancestors experienced a lack of food and were taught to hold on to foods just in case of future need. In addition, making food for others when there was a lack of resources was a statement that, no matter what, we would take care of others.

My mother, raised in a Jewish family, was taught these values and was shown love from her mother through food as well. Our family celebrates holidays through sharing of meals, and I always feel cared for when people take time out of their day to make me something delicious.

For the first time all semester, the weather has broken 80 degrees and it has been lovely outside. I have been spending as much time as possible soaking up the sun and picnicking with friends, however we recently got in a heated debate about the best snacks to bring on a picnic. I would argue that it is crucial to have a drink, a salty snack, and a sweet snack at minimum for a successful picnic.

For a healthy savory or salty snack option, I would recommend bringing a protein bar such as a Kind bar. These bars are packed full of protein and taste delicious as well. They are perfect for when you’re hungry and don’t have time for a meal.

For a more salty snack, I always recommend Harvest Snaps; they are healthy and taste amazing. They are made of green peas, red lentils, and black beans, and always hit the spot.

I love to bring a drink to enjoy my snacks with, and personally I always bring a bottle of blue Powerade. It certainly isn’t the most healthy option, however it is filled with electrolytes and is super refreshing on a hot day. If Powerade isn’t your jam, homemade or fresh squeezed lemonade is always a good option.

Finally, for a desert item, I love the Wild Berry Skittles bags. You can purchase them at the C Store, and the bags are the perfect size for a picnic.

Hope these recommendations will help for successful picnics and yummy snacks!

Aloe vera is a type of plant containing many health benefits when eaten and applied topically to the skin. Most people know that aloe can be used to soothe sunburns, however, when consumed, aloe can also strengthen the body internally. In juice form, aloe is a rich form of antioxidants, meaning that it reduces the risk of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

Aloe can also be used as a treatment to Irritable Bowl Syndrome (IBS), as it has anti-inflammatory properties. Aloe vera juice specifically contains vitamins C, A, and E, beta-carotene, folic acid, calcium and magnesium.

You can purchase aloe vera juice, however it is also very easy to make. Simply take a spike off of an aloe vera plant and trim the edges off the sides. Slice open the spike and remove the gel inside, which is the edible portion of the plant. Pop the gel in the blender with some water, blend it, and drink!

During the 2021 school year, the College of Wooster undertook a project to renovate Lowry, the main dining location on campus. For the past year or so, students have been instructed to enter Lowry from one entrance on the side of the building with three sets of stairs leading to the current dining space. In addition, the post office and C Store have been moved to opposite ends of campus while this renovation takes place, making it more inconvenient for students to visit those locations.

I believe that, while the renovation will certainly benefit students in the long run, Lowry is currently not the social environment it once was and many students do not eat as frequently as they would like to due to the inconvenience of visiting Lowry. While several clubs continue to do this, some have stopped weekly dinners at Lowry which, I believe, changes the atmosphere of the space. I don’t look forward to seeing my friends at dinner in the ways that I used to, because Lowry does not feel the same as it used to.

To address the second part of my concern with the Lowry renovation, many friends of mine neglect to eat for much of the day because Lowry is now inconvenient to access for them and food options there are limited due to shortened hours of operation and location. To make up for this, Wooster opened Kittredge Hall for meals, however they serve extremely limited options (except on specialty days), and it is even farther away than Lowry. The college has been trying to accommodate for students and I respect that, however with Lowry under construction, I feel that the social scene and options for food on campus are limited.

All in all, I feel that Wooster feels less like a community, and Lowry does not feel like the social and welcoming space that I remember it being in past years. I understand that this renovation had to occur, however I still have strong feelings about the changes it has brought to the campus community.