Comfort food.  We all have one.  That meal we turn to when we’re sad, or poorly, or exhausted.  The one that makes us feel warm and happy on the inside.  Obviously, there are science-based reasons for why we choose one food over another; foods which are higher in sugar or fat, for example, stimulate dopamine production in the brain, giving us a short-term hit of happiness, which could explain why most of us are more likely to reach for these foods when we’re low.  Fortunately, however, the human brain is too complicated to be explained that easily.  A brief survey of my various group chats, (as a student nurse, I obviously understand the importance of proper sample sizes and peer reviewed research) gave more insight into my friends’ comfort foods of choice, and what they thought the reasoning was behind them.  

Unsurprisingly, foods like cheese on toast and pizza were popular.  A special mention in this category also has to go for the friend who chose “Nutella out the jar with a spoon”.  The reasoning behind these tended to be that they’re quick and easy.  They fill you up and they taste good.  I suppose it makes sense that if we’re reaching for a comfort food because we’re sick or tired, it’s going to be the one which takes the least possible effort before we can get back onto the sofa for another episode of whatever reality TV series we’re currently bingeing (for me right now it’s Indian Matchmaking, and if you haven’t seen it yet, get it on your watch list immediately).

The other popular category was things like homemade cookies or puddings which reminded people of their childhood.  When we’re feeling sad or alone, it can definitely be comforting to remember back to a time when we felt safe and cared for, even if the people who made us feel that way may not be around now, or might be far away from us.  

The final, slightly more miscellaneous category seems to be what I’m going to call mindful foods.  My own choice of risotto and my Mum’s of spaghetti bolognese fall squarely in here, as does the friend who chose steak tartar and chips, although for slightly different reasons.  Although when I’m feeling tired or poorly, I would definitely say my go-to is pizza, if I’m feeling sad then it’s risotto that will cheer me up.  Specifically, making my own risotto.  To make a really perfect risotto, you need cannot leave your hob while it is cooking.  You need to stand there, stirring continuously and adding a tiny amount of liquid at a time in order to obtain the optimum consistency of sticky and gooey, with just enough bite.  Spag bol too, takes time if you want it to be perfect.  There’s something about setting that time aside for yourself, being alone in the kitchen with lovely warm cooking smells.  It’s culinary self-care.  I’m including steak tartar here too, because the friend who chose it reasoned that it was to do with all the different taste layers and textures, and the fact it melts in your mouth.  It’s a meal that you have as a special treat, not something you would go for every day.

It’s probably worth mentioning at this point that one person did actually choose salad as her comfort food, which is why I’ve added ‘(Almost)’ to the title and serves as proof that it takes all sorts to make up this world.

So, now I’ve talked about my friends’ various comfort foods, and the reasoning behind them, what can we do with that information?

Before I go onto this next bit, I want to make it clear that there is absolutely nothing wrong with eating your favourite foods, comfort foods, ‘unhealthy’ foods or whatever we want to call them.  Food is good and if eating something makes you happy when you’re sad, you should absolutely eat it.  However: if you’re finding that you’re reaching for these foods a bit more often, it might be worth thinking about why that could be.  For example, it’s OK to bake a batch of cookies from your Gran’s old recipe and eat the whole lot in one sitting.  But, if you’re doing this a bit more often than you’d like, maybe it’s time for a trip home to see your family?  Or even just to make a nice long phone call to a loved one.  Similarly, if, like me, your go-to is more to do with alone time and self-care, maybe it’s time to get yourself a bath bomb and schedule a mini-spa evening.  If it’s the dopamine hit that you’re after, try getting out for a walk in nature (although I appreciate this one can be difficult if you’re tired or burnt out).

Understanding our triggers, why we behave in certain ways or want certain things can help us to care for ourselves better.  So next time you find yourself reaching for your favourite comfort food, have a think about why you’re choosing it and what need it’s meeting for you.