In this piece, Mia will be telling readers about comfort foods and how they affect the general population
By Mia Bartscher
Some foods are more widely loved than others. While some foods are hated, others are enjoyed, and then there are the foods that evoke emotional responses. They summon feelings of safety, of contentment, and of nostalgia. These are comfort foods. Comfort foods are very personal, and can vary wildly depending on culture, geography, and personal preference. However, a common tether between the comfort foods of many is childhood.
Photo Credit: Delish
When asked what foods constitute comfort foods, many people turn to foods such as pasta and potatoes. According to the New York Times, carbohydrates increase levels of the mood-enhancing chemical serotonin in the brain. Eating starchy foods physically enhances a person’s mood, but comfort foods are more than simply a chemical reaction. National Geographic reports, “Comfort food is all about nostalgia—memories of a parent at the stove, family gatherings around the table, even a dish you hated as a kid but inexplicably long for once you’re old enough to have a kitchen of your own.” People associate familiarity with comfort, so foods that are familiar, foods that remind them of their family or childhood, often evoke feelings of safety and comfort.
Some people enjoy comfort foods more than others. One factor that affects how much a person enjoys comfort food is brain chemistry. The New York Times states that “People who are especially sensitive to sweetness — who can detect sweet flavors at lower concentrations than others and who often have a ‘sweet tooth’ — have stronger brain-reward responses to sugary foods than less sweet-sensitive people do.” Although not all comfort foods are sweet, some people are more chemically susceptible to the mood-lifting effects of sugar. Furthermore, a person’s relationships can affect how much they enjoy comfort food. In a study reported by The Atlantic, participants self-assessed their attachment styles through descriptions that represented them. Half of them were then asked to remember a conflict with a loved one. When given potato chips afterward, those who reflected on a painful memory rated the chips tastier, though only among those who had a secure attachment style. Those with more insecure attachment styles had no notable difference. Because of this, the scientists conducting the experiment believe: “Comfort food’s power may lie primarily in the associations it calls to mind. People who have positive family relationships are more likely to reach for reminders of those relationships in times of sadness—and often, those reminders come in the form of something edible.” The stronger a person’s emotional connections, the more likely they are to enjoy comfort food.
Another study found that tastes in comfort food can vary by gender. According to a survey by Science Direct asking participants to agree or disagree on whether foods were comfort foods, women's top choices were: “ice cream (74%), chocolate (69%), and cookies (66%).” However, when men filled out the survey, their comfort foods consisted of “ice cream (77%), soup (73%), and pizza/pasta (72%).” Aside from ice cream, which appears to be universally loved, men were more likely to choose hardy, savory meals, whereas women seemed to prefer sweetness. Moreover, the times when people reach for comfort food seem to be split by gender. “Based on the results of a web-based survey…loneliness, depression, and guilt were all found to be key drivers of comfort eating for women, whereas the men questioned typically reported that they ate comfort food as a reward for success.” While women seem to reach more for comfort food during times of distress, men are more inclined to eat comfort food as a prize.
Photo Credit: Food and Wine
The first recorded use of the phrase “comfort food” was in 1965, as reported by National Geographic. Nowadays, there is more information on comfort food and how it comforts, and we have more of an idea why we crave it in certain situations. Whether it is paella or cake, chicken soup or ice cream, comfort food has become a part of our modern culture.
One of my personal comfort foods is a Cuban dish that my mom has been making for as long as I can remember.
Photo Credit: LaaLoosh
Ingredients
3 tbsp olive oil
1 yellow onion (diced)
1 potato (diced)
4 large garlic cloves or 1 tsp of garlic powder
1 ½ pounds ground beef
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt (to taste)
8 ounce can tomato sauce
⅓ cup pimento stuffed olives (plus some brine)
2 tbsp raisins (optional and sometimes controversial)
Directions
Saute diced potato until golden brown.
Heat a big skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and onions, and saute until soft, about five minutes.
Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
Add the ground beef to the pan and season with salt and cumin, then cook until brown.
Add the tomato sauce, olives, potatoes and raisins (if using) in with the beef and stir to combine.
Lower heat to a simmer and cook for fifteen minutes, uncovered.
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/24/well/eat/comfort-food.html
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/comfort-food-nostalgia-in-a-bowl
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/04/why-comfort-food-comforts/389613/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878450X16300786