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Why Are Comfort Foods So Comforting?

I’ve finally recovered from my virus (I think!), four days of fever haze and comfort foods. And now that I’m thinking clearly again, I’m wondering why comfort foods are so dang comforting?

The general consensus seems to be that comfort foods bring up good, safe, happy childhood memories. They’re generally not fancy, not gourmet… they’re familiar, comfortable, and filling.

My own comfort foods? Well, as soon as I started feeling sick, I asked my roommate to go to the store for ginger ale and orange juice. They’re my go-to sick drinks… almost definitely because that’s what Mom always gave me when I was sick as a little kid. But these days, I’m mostly a sugar-free drink person. I tend to drink diet soda and Crystal Light juices. So guzzling all that ginger ale and OJ left my teeth feeling kinda scuzzy.

After various surgeries in my life, my favorite meal was mashed potatoes. Tasty, easy to eat (one was dental surgery, one was sinus surgery), and gentle on the system. But… it’s not very healthy to fuel a healing body with just mashed potatoes! My Mom’s trick was to make the mashed potatoes with chicken broth (to get some protein in there) or cheese (same deal).

Another facet of the comfort aspect of comfort foods is how well they fill you up. Comfort foods are often stick-to-your-ribs meals, like macaroni and cheese or meat and potatoes. Being full can be very comforting in itself! Some foods (like turkey, eggs, and some cheeses) are high in tryptophan, an amino acid that can encourage drowsiness. Of course, many big meals (whether or not they are high in tryptophan) can leave you feeling warm, full, and sleepy.

So how do you find the balance between comfort and health? It depends a lot on what your comfort foods are. My sick drinks can be healthier if I switch to a low sugar or no sugar version (and drink plenty of water in between). My mashed potatoes are probably better as a side dish, not a main course… but they can be adjusted to include more protein.

I think the important thing is balance. Make sure what you’re eating hits more than one food group — grains, dairy, fruits, veggies, protein, fats. Make sure the healthy stuff is in greater quantity than the unhealthy stuff. But even the bad stuff isn’t horrible if you have it in moderation.