Do you tend to reach for certain foods when you’re stressed, tired, or sad? Most people do and most comfort foods tend to be calorie bombs. There is no one comfort food that meets everyone’s physical and emotional needs, but instead, the foods tend to be those that brought comfort most when you were a young child.
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Researchers at State University of New York, Buffalo found that for most people, comfort food is indulgent, like ice cream, fried food, or takeout. Are those foods truly providing comfort when we need it or are we making excuses to overindulge when we’ve had a bad day? The research suggests that true comfort food has a deeply rooted memory attached to it; i.e. eating chicken noodle soup when you were home sick from school. If there’s no reassurance or memory attached to the food, it’s just an excuse to let up on your healthy choices when you’re having a bad day. Perhaps the most interesting finding of all was that food, whether comfort food, healthy, or junk, didn’t have an impact on the subject’s sense of mental wellbeing. It might feel good to eat a bowl of macaroni and cheese like you did as a scared child, but it’s not actually making you feel better.
So if comfort food feels right after a bad day but doesn’t actually bring us comfort, can we make it healthier or find comfort in another source?
Comfort doesn’t have to come from food. A favorite movie, book, or relaxing past time that has a positive connotation can bring you the same comfort you think you’re getting from a bowl of ice cream. The next time you feel stressed or sad, think of how you found comfort as a child. Did your parents read you a particular book? Did you calm down after a warm bath? Reaching back into childhood memories for how you were soothed may help you find better ways to comfort yourself.
Make time for exercise. Exercise releases endorphins that naturally increase your sense of mental well-being. The days that you think you’re too stressed, too tired, too sad to exercise may actually be the days you need the endorphins the most. Commit to doing just fifteen minutes of your favorite workout when you start to feel down and see if that burst of endorphins doesn’t lead to a longer, more productive workout and a lasting better feeling.
Make adaptations. Since researchers have established it’s not the food that brings comfort, there’s no reason you can’t swap out a healthier recipe without losing the feeling you’re seeking. If you’re favorite comfort food isn’t greasy, takeout or junk food you might be able to adapt your classic favorite to make it a healthier option. Adding fresh vegetables or fruit to your favorite dish, easing up on butter, or swapping Greek yogurt for ice cream may give you the sensation you’re looking for without the calorie bomb attached.
