Comfort food

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For the Noah Ashenhurst novel, see Comfort Food (novel).
Chicken soup is a common classic comfort food that might be found across cultures, and is widely regarded as a folk remedy for colds and flus.

Comfort food is food prepared traditionally that may have a nostalgic or sentimental appeal,[1] or simply provide an easy-to-eat, easy-to-digest meal rich in calories, nutrients[citation needed], or both. Comfort foods may be foods that have a nostalgic element either to an individual or a specific culture.[citation needed] Many comfort foods are flavorful and easily eaten, having soft consistencies.

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[edit] Psychological studies

Comfort foods may be consumed to positively pique emotions, to relieve negative psychological affects or to increase positive feelings.[2] The term was first used, according to Webster's Dictionary, in 1977.

One study divided college-students' comfort-food identifications into four categories (nostalgic foods, indulgence foods, convenience foods, and physical comfort foods) with a special emphasis on the deliberate selection of particular foods to modify mood or affect, and indications that the medical-therapeutic use of particular foods may ultimately be a matter of mood-alteration.[3]

The identification of particular items as comfort food may be idiosyncratic, though patterns are detectable. In one study of American preferences, "males preferred warm, hearty, meal-related comfort foods (such as steak, casseroles, and soup), while females instead preferred comfort foods that were more snack related (such as chocolate and ice cream). In addition, younger people preferred more snack-related comfort foods compared to those over 55 years of age." The study also revealed strong connections between consumption of comfort foods and feelings of guilt.[4]

Comfort food consumption has been seen as a response to emotional stress, and consequently, as a key contributor to the epidemic of obesity in the United States.[5] The provocation of specific hormonal responses leading selectively to increases in abdominal fat is seen as a form of self-medication.[6]

Further studies suggest that consumption of comfort food is triggered in men by positive emotions, and by negative ones in women.[7] The stress effect is particularly pronounced among college-aged women, with only 33% reporting healthy eating choices during times of emotional stress.[8] For women specifically, these psychological patterns may be maladaptive.[9]

A therapeutic use of these findings includes offering comfort foods or "happy hour" beverages to anorectic geriatric patients whose health and quality of life otherwise decreases with reduced oral intake.[10]

[edit] International examples of comfort foods

[edit] American comfort foods

Macaroni and cheese is an American comfort food[11]
Fried chicken is another American comfort food.[11]

In a reader's opinion poll by About.com, the following are the top 25 foods stated as comfort foods by respondents:[11]

One recent development, as chefs have explored the roots of American cuisine and tried to define it as a unique style, is the advent of fine dining comfort food restaurants that feature more careful cooking and presentation, higher quality and fresh organic ingredients, along with consequently higher prices.[12]

[edit] Australian comfort foods

While some of these comfort foods have different names regionally, they tend to be available in all states. This list also demonstrates the ethnic influences on Australian cuisine.

[edit] British comfort foods

Many of these are childhood favourites and were commonly featured on school dinner menus up to the 1990s.

[edit] Chinese comfort foods

Lanzhou lamian.

In Chinese culture the comfort foods might differ between each households. Nevertheless the common theme is usually invoked nostalgic sentiments of home and family. Chinese comfort foods usually served warm, have soft texture and it might be soupy. Some of common Chinese comfort foods are:

[edit] Ecuadorian comfort foods

Ecuadorian comfort foods -like everywhere- vary depending of the region. Some of Ecuadorian comfort foods are:

[edit] Filipino comfort foods

[edit] Finnish comfort foods

[edit] French comfort foods

[edit] French-Canadian comfort foods

[edit] German comfort foods

[edit] Indian comfort foods

[edit] Indonesian comfort foods

Bubur ayam (chicken congee) one of the most popular comfort foods in Indonesia

Some of popular Indonesian food are considered as comfort food, usually served hot or warm, soupy and have soft texture. Some Indonesian comfort food are traditional Indonesian food and some are derived from Chinese influences. For some Indonesians, especially those who are abroad, comfort food might also be a certain brand or type of Indonesian instant noodle, such as Indomie Mi goreng.[13] Indonesian comfort foods include:

[edit] Japanese comfort foods

Miso soup and onigiri

[edit] Korean comfort foods

[edit] Malaysian comfort foods

[edit] Pakistani comfort foods

Khichdi, a common comfort food in South Asian cuisines

[edit] Romanian comfort foods

[edit] Swedish comfort foods

[edit] Thai comfort foods

[edit] See also

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[edit] References

  1. ^ "Comfort Food." (definition). Merriam-webster.com. Accessed July 2011.
  2. ^ Wansink, Brian and Cynthia Sangerman (2000). "Engineering Comfort" (PDF). http://foodpsychology.cornell.edu/pdf/engineeringcomfortfoods.pdf. Retrieved 2010-09-23. 
  3. ^ Lochera, Julie L. et al Comfort Foods: An Exploratory Journey Into The Social and Emotional Significance of Food. Food and Foodways, Volume 13, Issue 4 October 2005 , pages 273–297
  4. ^ Wansink, Brian, et al Exploring comfort food preferences across age and gender. Physiology & Behavior
  5. ^ Dallman, Mary F. et al.. "Chronic stress and obesity: A new view of "comfort food"". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. http://www.pnas.org/content/100/20/11696.abstract. Retrieved 2010-09-23. 
  6. ^ Dallman, Mary F. et al Chronic stress and comfort foods: self-medication and abdominal obesity Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
  7. ^ Dubé, Laurette, et al Affect asymmetry and comfort food consumption Physiology & Behavior
  8. ^ KANDIAH Jayanthi, et al. "Stress influences appetite and comfort food preferences in college women". Nutrition Research 2006 (Cat.inist.fr) 26 (no3): 118–123. http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=17879071. Retrieved 2010-09-23. 
  9. ^ LeBel, Jordan L. et al Weakened biological signals: Highly-developed eating schemas amongst women are associated with maladaptive patterns of comfort food consumption. Physiology & Behavior
  10. ^ Wood, Paulette (July 1998). "Feeding the anorectic client: Comfort foods and happy hour". Geriatric Nursing (Gnjournal.com) 19 (4): 192–194. http://www.gnjournal.com/article/S0197-4572(98)90153-7/abstract. Retrieved 2010-09-23. 
  11. ^ a b c "Top 25 Comfort Foods and Recipes." Homecooking.about.com. Accessed July 2011.
  12. ^ "Comfort Food Goes Upscale: Top Chefs Injecting Luxury To Old-Fashioned Favorites". CBS News. 2005-08-28. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/08/28/sunday/main798778.shtml. 
  13. ^ a b Indomie - Mi Goreng
  14. ^ IndonesiaEats.com
  15. ^ Comfort Food Helps Indonesian Maid Recover
  16. ^ a b BBC: Barack Obama's Indonesia charm offensive
  17. ^ Chowhound Indonesia - Soto Ayam at Malioboro Country

[edit] Further reading

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