Is Nostalgia a Sixth Sense?

by Eliza Francis

Our five core senses mesh to form our external perceptions, which in turn influences our internal decision making. Rarely leading us astray, the power of sight, smell, touch, hearing, and taste help the consumer decide upon something we all need: food. The presentation of a dish, whether it be ornate or humble, is emphasized to appeal to the adage, “You eat with your eyes first.” While cliché, the multitudes of people that reach for their phone to capture a photo of a dish each day only further proves this theory. The aroma of food is often utilized to uncover associations. These associations could be tied to pleasant memories or indicate that the food may be expired. The touch or texture of food can be a deciding factor in whether a dish is deemed delicious or disgusting — an excess of stickiness, staleness, or other consistencies can single-handedly dissuade the diner from an otherwise acceptable meal. Hearing, in terms of food consumption, is less explicitly connected, though still present. With the absence of sizzles from a plate of fajitas or the crisp crunch from a potato chip, will these foods truly have the same allure? The last, and arguably most prominent, is taste. A non-negotiable factor, the taste of food is the very thing that adds joy to something that would otherwise be viewed as mere fuel. Just as a moral compass guides us to make positive decisions, these five senses ensure that we make positive choices when eating. So, why taste buds. To explore the myriad of forms in which this “sixth sense” is expressed, I shall present a series of accounts from people of diverse backgrounds that have a special connection

Jana (A.K.A., my lovely mom): Frozen Totino’s Pepperoni Party Pizza

“I’ve had the opportunity to eat some of the best pizza throughout New York City and Chicago. But for some reason every time I pass the cheap frozen pizza in the grocery store aisle, I have to buy it. When I’m at home making it, I’m transported to my first apartment in Atlanta, and it brings me comfort. Eating my 1.75 dollar pizza makes me feel like my early 20’s self. And for that reason, it always tastes great.”

Claire ’26 (A.K.A., a true friend): Pig Feet

“It’s kind of weird, but it reminds me of my grandfather and how his favorite dish was pig feet. I used to hate it, but then one day (and it wasn’t even gradual), I just loved it. I hadn’t had it for a while until the other day when I was overwhelmed by such a familiar taste. I don’t know, it just somehow managed to bring me back home.”

Eliza, A.K.A. me: Fried Green Tomatoes

“Transitioning from Kentucky to Andover, there was a stark lack of fried food that I had become so accustomed to. In fact, the first time I mentioned my favorite summer food, I was asked two questions: A) why would you fry a tomato, and B) why would it be green? My initial answer was that weirder things have been fried in Kentucky, but the question did force me to re-evaluate what exactly appealed to me about this dish. Then, everything just seemed to click. The tomatoes brought me back to July Saturdays when my mom and I would visit our local farmer’s market. My friend would play the fiddle for the humble crowd of familiar strangers, and I would be complaining about the intense humidity… Those are the moments that I hold onto in times of stress.”

Whether it be frozen pizza, pig feet, or fried green tomatoes, nostalgia acts as a key player in everyone’s unique connections to food.