Love Bite: A Guide to Beating the ‘New Year New Me’ Algorithm
Words: Lauren O’Neill
Make it stand out
December and January are, let’s face it, probably the weirdest moments of the year when it comes to food and eating. I don’t think there are many people who don’t feel it at least a bit, and the internet only exacerbates this.
It’s kind of impossible to describe the force of the whiplash you feel when one moment, Instagram is serving you Reels about MARKS AND SPENCER BEST PARTY FOOD FINDS 2024 and the next all you’re seeing is January content about restriction again. Obviously the algorithm is always finding ways to yell at us in contradictory ways, but I do tend to feel it especially this time of year.
So as a bit of a corrective, I thought that for this, my first Love Bite of 2025, I would write a short list of ways in which you might approach food in a way that allows it to represent fun and discovery rather than stress, in this weird hellish period. Hope it helps or at least gives you your own fun ideas.
Learn How to Make a Dish You Love From Scratch
Nobody is going out and everyone is broke so January is an amazing time to raw dog a new ability, and nothing hits like being able to make yourself an incredible version of your own favourite thing, whether that’s spag bol or like, a slick French omelette. Think of yourself as a Sim, getting amazing at the Cooking skill.
Also, once you learn a dish and keep trying to perfect it, that’s something you’ll be able to do forever, so not only will you get a sense of personal achievement – the first time you get it just right will feel very, very good, trust me – but you will be able to impress everyone with whatever food you choose literally for the rest of your life. Your wings or tikka paneer or even like, porridge (I’ve gotten so into porridge recently) will go down in history. People will clamour for them, I swear.
___STEADY_PAYWALL___
Have a Themed Night
Sometimes when I am feeling low, I have a personal taco night, because it always cheers me up. I buy my favourite tortillas and my favourite hot sauce and I choose whatever filling my heart desires most, and I prepare a salsa and maybe some guacamole for myself. I use every utensil in the kitchen, and lay each individual element out on a little side table, and then I sit on the sofa, and I put my tacos together while I watch something comforting on TV. It never fails to make me happy.
Maybe your theme night is an Italian night where you make bruschetta for yourself and your housemates, or a 70s night where you invite all your friends to bring like, devilled eggs and prawn cocktail. OR maybe you’re like me and you prefer to enjoy your loosely themed foods on your own time. Whatever you pick, it’s a fun way to put food at the centre of an event in a way that feels novel rather than weird or heavy.
Go Somewhere to Eat You’ve Always Thought Looked Cool
Not far from where I live, there’s a Thai café that always catches my eye every time I walk past. I’ve never been in despite living maybe a 15 minute walk away, but I’m determined that in January, I’m going to make the trip and have lunch or dinner there. Your thing might be that you want to go somewhere that your friends have been recommending, or that you’ve seen photos from online. It doesn’t have to be expensive or outlandish, it just has to be about having a new experience.
I think doing that with food tends to remind us that there’s a lot to discover when it comes to what we’re eating, and it kind of opens food up as an area for new knowledge rather than new stress. Plus, eating out is fun and it’ll break up the January monotony big time. You get a new favourite restaurant, a boredom cure, and a (hopefully) good memory. All pretty good outcomes if you ask me.
Eat with a Pal
Again, seems obvious, but I do think tangibly enjoying food with someone you love or like or otherwise have fun with is the perfect anecdote to like, scrolling on your phone by yourself feeling bombarded by content about the abstract concept of food either way. Maybe you meet up at the weekend to share a pastry; maybe you make an overly elaborate dinner on a Tuesday for your girlfriend. Ultimately food is very personal but it’s also really social and I think leaning into that element can help this time of year, which can feel quite isolating after the social overload of the festive season. Just my opinion!!
