Holiday Comfort Foods

I find the term "comfort food" very ironic. "Comfort food," a phrase which has been popular since the 1970's, refers to foods that are stated to lead to emotional improvement, relieving negative responses and enhancing positive feelings.  Comfort foods are suggested to encourage feelings of well-being or result in quick and easy satisfaction. Home cooked meals come to mind when we think of comfort foods but more recently fast foods and quick-to-prepare meals are more heavily selected for comfort uses with ice cream, potato chips, chocolate, cookies and cake topping off the list.

Studies have shown strong correlations between consumption of comfort foods and the very negative (and far from comfortable) feeling of guilt. Indulging in comfort foods is often a response to emotional stress, with the hope that even a brief feeling of comfort or relief will follow the meal. However, this trend is a large contributor to the epidemic of obesity in the United States and elsewhere. 

When have you felt comfortable after "stuffing your face" with cake? When have you enjoyed stress relief from consuming a large french fry? When have you experienced enhanced positive emotions from over-eating mashed potatoes and gravy? When has a "comfort food" left you comfortable in mind or body??? Not only are your pants tighter, which is the opposite of comfortable, but you avoid the mirror, you shut down mentally, you punish yourself with negative thoughts and possibly negative actions...none of which are comfortable in ANY way!!!

I think it's comfortable to look in the mirror and like (or at least not mind) what you see knowing that you are improving on it every day. I feel comfortable when my pants fit well and I can breath properly when I'm wearing them. I'm comfortable not having to back track after over indulging in Holiday eats and staying the path toward a healthier and more balanced lifestyle. I'm comfortable with whole grains, vegetables, lean meats, a great workout program and positive people in my life.  I'm comfortable calling a spade a spade...comfort food...you suck!