What makes food comforting

And then when you get older, the food itself is enough to trigger that sense of belonging. Past research has questioned the idea of comfort food in other ways. In a study published last year in the journal Health Psychology , researchers used upsetting movie scenes to induce bad moods in their participants, and then served each one either their previously indicated comfort food, another food they had said they liked, a neutral snack like a granola bar, or nothing.

Which, in a way, is what the authors of the Appetite study are saying, too. Food, Gabriel said, could be swapped out for anything else that brings the same soothing sense of familiarity, like re-reading a beloved book or watching a favorite TV show.

Sometimes it is. Skip to content Site Navigation The Atlantic. Popular Latest. A stretch of cold, dreary weather that has you feeling the winter blues. People tend to seek high-calorie, high-fat foods during periods of stress. Thirty-eight percent of adults report that they have overeaten or eaten unhealthy foods in the past month because of stress, according to the American Psychological Association. People feeling sad also tend to eat more of less-healthy comfort foods than when they feel happy, according to research out of Cornell University.

When stress, seasonal blues or sadness has you looking for comfort in the cupboard, what is it that you reach for? Ranker recently conducted a survey to determine which comfort foods are the most loved by Americans, and the foods that top the list comes as no surprise: chocolate, grilled cheese, pizza …. Why exactly are these comfort foods so, well, comforting? If your grandmother served you chocolate chip cookies as a child that may be why you make a pit stop at the bakery on your way home from the office after a particularly stressful day.

Another recent study published in the International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science confirmed that certain foods take on their role as comfort food through the association with positive social encounters in our past. Topping the list of most comforting foods: Grilled cheese. Does that come as any surprise?

Sometimes nothing can soothe the soul quite like melted cheese sandwiched between two slices of crusty bread. Instead, simply make the bread whole grain, cut back on the butter and stuff it with veggies like in this recipe from My Suburban Kitchen. Unfortunately, it tends to come with a hefty dose of added sugar. Not so with this Chocolate Zucchini Brownie recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie , which clock in at just 83 calories each, uses shredded zucchini and applesauce for moisture, and has half the amount of sugar as a typical brownie recipe.

Bubbling baked pasta , ice cream, or crispy fried chicken may be the ideal comfort food for some, but don't forget hearty soups that can do the trick with wonderful aromas and nutrient-rich ingredients. Comfort doesn't have to be a dense carb bomb. This is a judgement-free zone, but as with anything, even a little comfort can go a long way.

By Michelle Preli February 21, Save Pin More. Credit: Armando Rafael. Comments Add Comment. Back to story Comment on this project. Tell us what you think Thanks for adding your feedback. All rights reserved.