When I think of comfort foods and the benefits I receive when eating them, my mind immediately goes to my mother’s meatloaf, my grandmother’s (Nana) chicken rice soup, or my great-grandmother’s (Grammy) carne muddica (a Sicilian family recipe meaning breaded steak). Later in the article, I will include our secret recipe.
Typically, foods that are considered “comfort foods” vary significantly between cultures; however, the term denotes a prepared food that is high in fat and calories but low in nutritional value, which may evoke associations of “home,” childhood, or happiness – often associated with caloric content; although, the association is not restricted to high-calorie foods.
Comfort foods are eaten when we feel the need for comfort and can find that comfort in the taste, smell, and cooking of the dish. This type of food is generally characterized by nostalgia, cultural identity, and emotional attachment.
Many foods, such as chicken soup, macaroni, and cheese, or ice cream, may have a strong nostalgic connotation for those from specific regions. In some cases, such as times of war or upheaval in one’s home country, comfort foods may be the only remaining local cuisine items. In these instances, even non-native inhabitants will adopt those food traditions and the associated cuisine of their adopted country.
Bringing food to comfort the sick or elderly is a common tradition. For example, a friend out of state was sent an elder care Michigan food package as she was not well and missing some Michigan favorites such as Vernors pop, Buddy’s Pizza and Better Made potato chips.
Bringing food to comfort others is especially common in my family. It is our “love language”. Are you sad? Let me cook you something. Are you under the weather? Let me make you something. Are you visiting after a long absence? Let me make you something. And in my family, there is usually a pot of sauce in the fridge to whip up a good meal really fast. My mom would say, “It only takes a few minutes to make the noodles and heat the sauce, so get comfy and stay awhile!”
According to The University of Alabama study, “A 2015 study at Sewanee found that comfort food was associated with close relationships. It reminds of us our “social ties” and helps us feel less lonely when we feel isolated. This happens when an individual connects a food item with a social gathering, their family, or people taking care of them. There is a strong association between scents and memories due to the olfactory bulb, which is a part of the limbic system that deals with memory and emotional experience. Thus, nostalgia can evoke a sense of belonging,”.
And that is precisely what I feel when consuming my style of comfort foods – a sense of belonging. Both my Mom and Nana have passed on, so when I make their special dishes, I can feel their presence, their love, and suddenly, I am not wrapped up in reasons why I miss them; instead, I reflect on all the good things that we experienced together when they were alive, including the food.
Top Comfort Foods
Comfort food is constantly evolving yet defies all trends. Whether we crave Grammy’s muddica, mama’s meatballs, or a big bowl of matzo ball soup, we want the homespun favorites just the way mom or nana used to make them. Here are some of the top favorites in the United States:
- Spaghetti and meatballs
- Chicken Soup
- Meatloaf
- Chicken Pot Pie
- Beef Stroganoff
- Grilled Cheese and Tomato soup
- Chili
- Mac n Cheese
- Ice cream
- Mashed potatoes and gravy
Psychology Behind Comfort Food
Psychology Today discusses comfort food, “The Palm Beach Post in the l960s coined the term comfort food to describe the foods adults experiencing emotional distress often craved. These foods were associated with pleasant childhood memories, and as such, might relieve stress.
Some of the foods we want to eat when we need comfort may make us feel good because they are associated with being nurtured: perhaps when sick (chicken soup), coming inside cold and tired from an afternoon sledding (hot chocolate), or as a special treat after a rough day at school (mac and cheese),”.
They went on to note that, “The improvement in mood is not based on nostalgia, but neurochemical activity. Serotonin in the brain increases as a result of the carbohydrate being consumed, and this, in turn, improves mood,”.
Sometimes, just the smell of that food cooking can trigger positive memories because psychological research also shows that smells are powerfully linked to areas in the brain that are associated with memory and emotional experiences.
The Cleveland Clinic defines serotonin as, “A chemical that carries messages between nerve cells in the brain and throughout your body. Serotonin plays a key role in such body functions as mood, sleep, digestion, nausea, wound healing, bone health, blood clotting and sexual desire. Serotonin levels that are too low or too high can cause physical and psychological health problems,”.
What are the benefits of comfort food?
In conclusion, as we have learned, comfort foods vary as much as the hair color of a middle-aged woman like me does! All jokes aside, I am so grateful to have these family recipes to reach for when I want a hug from my mama. And speaking of recipes…as promised, below is our family recipe for “Carne Muddica” ~ Manga, manga!
- 2 lbs of round steak (cubed three times)
- Season meat with garlic powder, onion powder and pepper
- Make one bowl with 3 eggs, a three-count pour of olive oil, and a splash of milk
- Make another bowl with 2 cups of Italian breadcrumbs, 1 cup of grated Romano cheese, more garlic powder to taste
- Cut meat into portion-sized pieces
- Get a large frying pan, coat the bottom with olive oil, fire up the stove and put on a medium heat
- Dip meat pieces into the eggwash
- Then dip into the breadcrumb mix
- Lay carefully in the frying pan
- Flip (with a strong flat-bottomed spatula) when juices start to appear on top of the meat pieces
- Cook another couple of minutes until it reaches a safe temp for meat (or to your liking)
- Serve over pasta with a red meat or marinara sauce
- Manga!
*We are not responsible for undercooked food. This article is for informational purposes only. Always consult an expert when cooking meat or poultry.
