Nourished

The Prompt

Every dish has a story, and food has a unique way of weaving tales of comfort, love, and solidarity. At times when we needed a helping hand, a simple meal offered by someone can make a world of difference. We welcome you to share your heartwarming experiences tied to a special dish – whether it was a warm bowl of soup during a trying time, a comforting casserole after a long day, or a surprise dessert that made you want to celebrate. As we pass on these recipes, let's also pass on positive affirmations to uplift the spirits of those who recreate our meaningful dishes.

This challenge has 3 components.

The Story: Begin by narrating the time when you were offered this dish. Describe the circumstances, emotions, and the person who offered it. Let your readers feel the warmth and comfort you experienced. Was it during an illness, a personal setback, a challenging day, or just a surprise from a loved one? You do not need to share your deepest, darkest secrets, but you should set the tone for why the dish made your day.

The Recipe: Share the dish's recipe in detail. List down the ingredients, the quantities, the steps, and any secret tips you might have to perfect the dish. Photos are always welcome to make the recipe visually appealing and easier to follow.

The Affirmation: Conclude your story with a positive affirmation for the next person who will be cooking the dish. This affirmation should encapsulate the feelings and comfort the dish brought you, passing it on to the next person.

Please include a photo of the dish (if possible).

The essence of this challenge is to showcase the profound impact of seemingly simple acts of kindness. It's a celebration of food as not just sustenance, but a source of emotional and spiritual nourishment. We hope that you feel the heart in the recipes shared, and we can't wait to dig in🍴

In order for your submission to qualify, it must:

• Be between 600-3,000 words.
• Be submitted to the Feast community.

The Prizes

• Grand Prize: $500
• Second Place: $250
• 10 Runners-Up: $35

For your story to be eligible, it should be between 600 and 3,000 words, and adhere to our Community Guidelines. Stories published on Vocal and entered into the contest up until 11:59 PM ET on October 24, 2023 will be entered for consideration. Official Rules for the Challenge can be found here.

The Nourished Challenge is exclusive to Vocal+ members. To learn more and upgrade to Vocal+ visit https://vocal.media/vocal-plus.

To be eligible to win the grand prize, second place, or runners-up prizes, you must be over the age of 13 and residing in a country where Stripe is available at the time of entry. A complete list of countries where Stripe is available can be found here—winners will need to have a Stripe account created and connected in order to receive the prizes. For this reason, entrants located outside of any of these countries will not be eligible to win.