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What childhood food or dish do you still remember clearly, and why is it special to you?
As a child, a stomach bacteria severely limited my diet. My eating plan was so strict that any dish outside the usual felt like a special event, though the lack of variety ended up shaping my current tastes for example, I’m still very picky about sauces. Back then, everything was grilled, and sweets were completely off-limits. That’s why going to McDonald’s for a Happy Meal was my ultimate happiness: it was the only time I could enjoy something different that I truly loved nuggets, french fries, and apple juice. Plus, I collected every toy with such excitement. Thanks to those moments, chicken nuggets became my favorite childhood food.
Who usually prepared this food for you, and how did it make you feel at that time?
Although my biggest reference was McDonald’s nuggets, my pediatrician suggested we make them at home to ensure the quality of the process. So my dad started buying fresh chicken breasts to prepare his own homemade nuggets. Watching him cook and fry them just for me made me feel deeply special; even though we couldn’t always go to the restaurant, that homemade version gave me a different kind of happiness. Eating them at home, knowing the effort they put into taking care of me, actually felt even better.
When and where did you usually eat it (home, school, village, special occasions)?
As I mentioned, going to McDonald’s was a must every time we visited the city’s shopping malls. However, my dad’s care for my well-being didn’t stop at the kitchen at home; sometimes he would pack nuggets for me to take to school, along with a Yukery juice box. Carton juices were a rare exception in my diet, so bringing that lunch to school made me feel privileged. Whether at the restaurant, at home, or during recess, those nuggets were the common thread of my happiness.
What emotions come back when you think about the taste, smell, or moment?
Remembering all of this has filled me with immense nostalgia (and a bit of hunger too!). Looking back, I realize the nuggets weren’t just food; they were little refuges of joy amid so many medical restrictions. Reliving those moments from the Yukery juice in my lunchbox to my dad’s homemade nuggets reminds me how lucky I was to feel so cared for. It’s incredible how a single flavor can hold such deep emotions.
Is this food still part of your life today, or does it remain only as a memory?
Even in my last years of high school, nuggets were still present: a friend used to bring them for breakfast and, by sharing with us, she always transported me back to my afternoons at McDonald’s. Although it’s been a while since I last tried them, recalling all of this has stirred up huge nostalgia. That’s why I have a clear plan for when I get home: I’ll ask my dad to make his famous homemade nuggets, or I’ll go for a Happy Meal. Either option will be perfect for reconnecting with those little moments that made my younger self overflow with happiness.
Definitely, flavors are vehicles for memories and emotions. For me, food is a bridge between happiness and nostalgia a fusion of feelings that comes alive when I remember my childhood. It touches me to see how much I’ve grown, but it fills me with joy to relive those times when a simple trip to McDonald’s became the greatest treasure of my day.
Thank you for reading, see you soon 👋🏻
Photographs are my own
Greetings,
Thank you so much for participating in the contest.
It’s sad to hear that stomach bacteria restricted your diet so much during childhood. You shared your childhood chicken nuggets memories very beautifully. Because of medical limitations, trips to McDonald’s and your father’s homemade nuggets together clearly show how special this food was to you.
The post could be even more engaging if you added photos of nugget recipe or recreated nugget moments.
Thank you very much for your verification.