Comfort Foods Foods whose consumption evokes a psychologically comfortable and pleasurable state for a person

Comfort Foods Specific foods consumed under a specific situation to obtain psychological comfort. Familiar, simple foods that are usually home-cooked or eaten at informal restaurants. Childhood experiences are critical in forming life-long food consumption preferences and habits.

Comfort foods are different from “taste good” foods Salty, greasy, sweet foods 40% of foods cited as comfort foods, did not fall into the “taste good” category of snacks 60% of people surveyed identified homemade, “healthy” foods such as soup, main dishes, and casseroles.

Food meets our basic need for nourishment but it also… Is an instrument of cultural identity Helps us experience abundance, nurturing, pride, and fulfillment Allows us to share, renew, and pass on ethnic, regional, national identities.

Foods are used to… Mark personal rites of passage and historical turning points Celebrate days that are special to us-these important “event” foods are frequently personal and family comfort foods                                                                                                                              

People eat foods that trigger happy past associations-these foods are termed “comfort food” Physiological and psychological needs both affect taste and preferences for specific types of comfort-giving foods Men, during childhood were conditioned to feel that “moms cooking” was a sign of love

Why a food becomes of comfort food Past associations My dad loved…therefore I think of him when eating… My mom always gave me…when sick , therefore when I am sick, I want…

Age affects choice of “Comfort Food” 18-34 preferring ice cream and cookies 35-54 preferring soup, pizza, pasta 55 and over names soup and mashed potatoes

Women Preferred snack related items Chocolate Ice Cream Cookies

Males Preferred warm, hearty, meal-related foods Steak, casseroles, soups, pizza, pasta Identified ice cream as important food

What are some of your favorite comfort foods? Pizza Ice Cream Casseroles Soup Candy http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5385754n&tag=related;photovideo