As much as you might love the quality and ambition of restaurant-quality food at home, sometimes, you need something simpler and more familiar. For many, comfort food is one of the most important types of food they consume, but why do people feel this way about food that doesn’t match the nutritional value or even the quality of other dishes? Here are some ideas why comfort food is so important.
It Feels Good
Is there anything better than sitting down on a cold winter’s day wrapped in blankets with the best potato leek soup nestled in your lap? Probably not. Comfort food doesn’t just taste good, but it feels good, too. Every bite or even nibble is better than the last, and it will make you appreciate food in ways you don’t often think about when rushing through your breakfast and lunch because you’ve got so much to do. Taking your time with comfort food enhances your experience to make it more effective and comforting.
It Is a Great Self-Medicator
Comfort food is not just a means of filling your stomach. Experts have considered it excellent for stress relief and battling other mental struggles that are prevalent throughout society. Every step of the process, from preparing to consuming can make you feel better and relieve the tension you’ve accumulated following a stressful day or week at work. The same goes for ordering comfort food to your house. While you don’t get the same aromatic sensations, the ordering and anticipation make it something to look forward to and feel like a reward for any struggles you’ve encountered and overcome.
It Brings Back Fond Memories
You cannot underestimate the power of food memories and their connection to comfort food. It’s because of these memories that you find people with perhaps odd comfort food preferences. They love strange combinations of savory and sweet that you would never have thought of, but, because they have fond memories, it takes them back to a simpler time when everything seemed much easier. If you recall your parents making dinner or serving you a steaming plate of something easy and delicious, you will likely feel the same about that meal today. What’s more, any attempts to sophisticate it with better ingredients or flavors have not worked because it does not match the memory.
It Helps Celebrate Special Occasions
Comfort food will cheer everyone up, which is why it is so popular for celebrating special occasions. You know you should eat healthily, but the celebration always calls for something indulgent. Whether this is a pizza shared between friends or a decadent chocolate cake eaten by candlelight, it denotes something positive, and that’s just what a lot of people need in their life.
Home Comforts
There is nothing better than settling down on the sofa or around the dinner table with people and food you feel comfortable with. If you’re ever in a situation where you need to feel like you belong, feel like you’re home, and that all the worries of the world don’t matter just for this moment, comfort food can help you get there, transporting you to a world that just feels right.
This is a contributed post; for more information please visit our Privacy Policy.
