The human mind finds fascination in the simple elegance of circles. We’re drawn to circles to illustrate and understand concepts. And while we might sometimes see life as a linear series of events from start to finish, in many ways, it is often a circle.

To philosophers, the circle presents a visual metaphor for our cyclical nature (“the circle of life”). Circles equate to inclusion (“the inner circle”), and they evoke notions of completeness, the infinite, and unity (“a perfect circle”).

Every so often, we “come full circle” on industry issues. Consider dietary perspectives on fat. In the early days of the dairy industry, we embraced fat. Whole milk was the gold standard. Fast-forward to the 1980s, and the industry was spellbound by the notion of nonfat everything. Now the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend including full-fat dairy. Whole milk is back on the table — as is meat, a topic we’re featuring this month in our New Products coverage.

Our notion of human health continues to grow more holistic. Physiological connections to mental health abound. Annual medical checkups now include core mental health prompts. Demand for mental health support is spiking. Our timely “Mentally Beneficial Beverages” coverage this month focuses on opportunities for cognitive support, particularly in the beverage market, as more consumers take a well-rounded approach toward nutrition needs.

I’ve also recently come full circle. Just about 25 years ago, I signed on as an editor for Food Product Design, a publication like Prepared Foods, where I quickly found a mentor in Mike Leonard. Now, 25 years later, Mike and I have reunited as I step in to assume editorial management of Prepared Foods where he has long served as the publisher.

Bob Garrison, who served as editor of Prepared Foods for the past 14 years, is now working in an expanded role across our Food/Beverage Innovation & Manufacturing sector at BNP Media as Associate Director of Industry Engagement, exploring the intricacies of our modern food industry, following the path of innovation, and reporting back to fuel our ongoing content development. I’ve known Bob for almost as long as I’ve known Mike, and it’s a gift to have the opportunity to work so closely with these talented leaders.

I’ve likewise known many of you, the members of our valued Prepared Foods audience, for decades, and look forward to reconnecting — as well as meeting new folks with each passing week. When you have a moment, I’d encourage you to reach out and say hello, let us know how we are doing, and how things look from your perspective on the industry. After all, we’re always looking to grow our circle of connections.