Sometimes, when things get rough, the best remedy is something as simple as comfort foods. According to an industry report carried out by market analyst Mintel, 72% of consumers display a preference towards comfort foods when eating out. This was partially due to geopolitical tensions and the Covid-19 pandemic, a major, world-wide stressor, that led to an increased preference for comfort foods. Many brands and restaurants have also noticed and taken advantage of this new trend. But what makes food “comforting”? And what is the importance of comfort foods?

“Everybody has specific foods that bring them special memories, but also just feel good eating.” said Ms. Gallivan, a culinary teacher here at Libertyville High School. Comfort foods are, in essence, foods that have personal value to an individual. Oftentimes, they provide consolation and a warm feeling. Comfort foods are foods that are associated with contentment and sometimes nostalgia. These foods bring psychological comfort. Comfort foods can really be any food and are influenced by various personal preferences and experiences.

 Additionally, comfort foods vary across different cultures. For example, a common American comfort food is Mac and Cheese, a warm and carbohydrate filled dish. In Italy, a common comfort food is Lasagna, which is another cheesy dish made using an assortment of seasonings and fillings in between layers.  Whereas in Japan, another common comfort food is ramen, which is a variant of noodles that is often served in a broth with toppings including eggs and meats. In Poland, pierogi is a popular comfort food. Pierogi is a type of dumpling which is filled with cheese, potatoes, meats, mushrooms or even fruits. In West Africa, a popular comfort food is jollof rice, which is a tomato-based rice dish and can be cooked using spices, meats and vegetables. In Brazil, a popular comfort food is feijoada, which is Brazil’s national dish. Feijoada is a black bean stew which is prepared with beef or pork. 

Comfort foods, however, should not be confused with forms of emotional eating or binge eating-the latter involves unhealthy eating patterns. On the contrary, comfort foods are specific dishes or snacks that can be linked to bad eating habits. While the media occasionally portrays comfort foods as unhealthy and something to avoid, this isn’t entirely true. The myth that comfort foods are unhealthy stems from the fact that most comfort foods are high in carbs, saturated fats, sugars or a mix of all the above. While these ingredients are harmful in unregulated quantities, small servings aren’t awful. 

“Not only is food necessary for nourishment and growing our bodies stronger and healthier, but there is a component of eating food for enjoyment as well,” Ms. Gallivan said.“It’s a psychological thing…you need to have a balance of both, eating what is necessary and having some food for comfort.” With a healthy balance and regulation, comfort foods are completely fine on occasions.

So if you are feeling depressed this cold, snowy, winter, maybe getting some of your favorite comfort foods is exactly what you need to lift your spirits back up.