Natalija Hahn

“There must be a cooked meal every day.”

Krašči, Slovenia, 2025

In this interview for the Roma Soul Food project, Natalija Hahn reflects on childhood food memories shaped by family, cooked meals and the presence of grandparents, especially the daily macaroni soup made with water, Vegeta and macaroni. She recalls Christmas as a joyful time when the extended family gathered and several dishes were served, including soup, meat, rice, fries and salad, while Easter followed more familiar festive customs. Natalija also speaks about the connection between food and health, remembering how soup, carrots, fruit and vegetables were encouraged in childhood, and explaining how later health issues made her more aware of the importance of diet. Today, she continues to value cooked meals and passes this habit on to her children, while also recognising that holidays often bring richer and less healthy foods.

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Original language: Slovene/Romani