How do you define comfort food? Chances are your answer depends on the area of the country where you were raised, by whom and what they fed you. Read on for an exploration of food we tend to turn to when we need a virtual hug.
Why people turn to comfort food
There are certain times in life and during the year when people turn to comfort food. Winter tends to be a popular time simply because it is cold and dark. In America, the election cycle might drive people to drown their sorrows — or celebrate their collective victories — with food and drink.
These food items serve as a source of consolation during tough times. People find emotional security and positive nostalgia in certain dishes or retro drinks that might remind them of happier and easier moments.
Americans typically define comfort food as high-calorie, indulgent dishes that evoke feelings of warmth and satisfaction. Common examples include mac and cheese, fried chicken or apple pie.
History of comfort food
Even though the notion of comfort food has been around forever, Smithsonian Magazine wrote that the term first appeared in print in 1966 in The Palm Beach Post newspaper. That article focuses on why people crave certain foods to feel less alone. “Adults, when under severe emotional stress, turn to what could be called ‘comfort food’ — food associated with the security of childhood, like mother’s poached egg or famous chicken soup,” the Palm Beach Post wrote.
The concept gained popularity in the 1970s as people sought familiar, soothing dishes during times of stress. As society became more fast-paced and industrialized, comfort food emerged as a way to reconnect with simpler times and find solace in familiar flavors.
Comfort food and gender
Interestingly, according to research that the University of Alabama at Birmingham cites, men and women perceive comfort food very differently. This includes the times when they seek out comfort food and also the kinds of comfort food they crave.
Women tend to turn to food they find comforting when they are lonely and sad. Men, on the other hand, want comfort food as a reward.
There is a split among women and men concerning their food choices under these circumstances. An article in the International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science shows the taste bud divide along gender lines, with one group craving sweet and the other savory. That is, women tend to reach for cookies, ice cream and chocolate for comfort, whereas men go for pizza or pasta. In other words, women want cold comfort food and men want hot comfort food.
Positive memories provide comfort
Not all women crave sweets when they want something reassuring on their plate. Many want food that reminds them of a happy time in their life or that they associate with positive memories.
Take Michelle Goth of Blackberry Babe. “As a young girl, I requested my dad’s pan-fried chicken and mashed potatoes for my birthday every year,” she recalled. “It’s the perfect comfort food that is seasoned and crispy without being greasy.” As an adult, it’s no surprise that this dish is her go-to when she wants comfort food.
Jessica Haggard of Quick Prep Recipes feels similarly about certain foods attached to childhood memories. “Broccoli cheddar soup checks all those boxes, especially when it’s served in a crusty bread bowl,” she said. “It’s a dish that never fails to deliver on flavor or remind me of happy childhood memories of coming back from the beach on a cold day and stopping at the local restaurants for a bowl of soup before arriving home.”
When you consume comfort food, Live Science says that your brain releases feel-good chemicals like dopamine. This psychological response reinforces the association between certain foods and emotional well-being. Even just smelling your preferred comfort food in the oven — for instance, chocolate chip cookies — can start the dopamine release that our brains want when we reach for certain foods.
Cultural differences
Comfort foods differ dramatically from one culture to another. That’s not surprising since there are diverse culinary traditions around the world. For instance, an Italian child might have been fed soup made with small pasta called “pastina” when they were sick or Nutella hazelnut spread on bread. So adults might turn to the same food when they want something comforting.
In Japan, a bowl of steaming ramen might provide comfort, while in India, a plate of spicy curry could be the go-to, feel-good meal. Someone raised in the Middle East might associate comfort with an entirely different flavor profile.
“My number one comfort food dish is rice and lentils. I remember first tasting it as an immigrant kid in Israel,” Ksenia Prints of Thermocookery remembered. “I first tasted it in an afterschool program where I knew no one. For some reason, this dish, known as mujadara, just felt like home. I now make it for my own kids and just the smell of it fills me with warmth and nostalgia.”
The emotional connection
People often describe comfort food using various terms and phrases with a positive connotation. Some have already been mentioned, such as nostalgia. Here are some other descriptors that might resonate with you:
- Heartwarming.
- Familiar.
- Satisfying.
- Indulgent.
- Home cooked.
- Wholesome.
- Warm.
A final hug
Comfort foods serve as a form of self-care, and many choices are rooted in positive childhood memories. Choosing familiar dishes can create a sense of control and predictability in uncertain situations. When you feel the need for a nostalgic hug, go ahead and soothe yourself with your favorite comfort food.
Leah Ingram prefers sweet comfort food choices over savory ones. Many of the recipes on her blog Bagels and Lasagna are comfort foods from her grandmother’s kitchen.