The expression ‘comfort food’ conjures different food images depending on who you talk to. Comfort food could be the type of food you crave when it’s cold and rainy outside and all you want to do is snuggle up under a blanket on the lounge, it could be the food you lean on when you’re upset (also featuring a blanket on the lounge), or it could be a special treat to reward yourself. One thing is always the same—it’s all about the feelings we associate with these particular foods or dishes. These feelings tap into memories of times and places in our lives when we felt secure and happy in ourselves.
The types of comfort foods we eat are different for everyone. For me, I associate things that are loaded with calories—some sweet, some savoury—with comfort and feeling better. I know I’m not alone in that. I mean, realistically, has anyone ever come home from a bad day at work and said, “I’ve had such a bad day, I really need some salad to cheer me up”? No, it’s things like chocolate, ice cream, or potato chips that we crave…
So what are the key qualities of comfort food? As I see it:
- nostalgia—some of my favourite comfort foods, the ones more like a meal than a snack, are the dishes that take me back to nana’s kitchen or special family dinners. For me, that’s things like roast lamb with mint sauce or pumpkin soup
- a treat—if something in my life isn’t going quite to plan I like to give myself a little boost with a sweet treat. Chocolate caramel slice anyone?
- pleasurable to eat—the sheer enjoyment of eating something decadent and delicious, even if it may not quite fit in with the healthy eating plan. I make a very simple dish that I class as comfort food—it’s the creamy sauce of garlic chicken majestic. I just love it!
Looking back over some of my previous posts it seems I have quite a few comfort foods. In addition to the ones I’ve already mentioned, take a look at:
- ‘stralian beef curry. Who doesn’t love a good curry?
- scrambled eggs. Best…brekkie…ever!
- herbed rissoles served with creamy mashed potato. Two comfort foods on the one plate—heaven!
- savoury beef roll. It’s like a giant sausage roll…need I say more?
Hmmm, nothing healthy in that list. I would love to hear from you if salad really is your comfort food. And if so, what’s the salad recipe? It’s gotta have bread or potato or creamy mayonnaise, right?!