Comfort food

We all know that food is an essential thing because it provides human beings with the nutrients and energy to grow. Food is not only necessary for our body's health but also beneficial to our mental well-being. Thus, some people take “comfort food” to make themselves feel better when they are in a bad mood. The authoritative Oxford English Dictionary added a definition for this modern term in 1997: 

“food that comforts or affords solace; hence, any food …… that is associated with childhood or with home cooking.” 

What food gives you emotional consolation when you feel upset ? Comfort food may vary from person to person, and from country to country. A British woman may want a chocolate brownie with hot custard, while a Hong Kong man may prefer a bowl of beef brisket noodle. 

This popular term appeared as early as 1966 in an article about obesity in an American newspaper, The Palm Beach Post: 

“Adults, when under severe emotional stress, turn to what could be called ‘comfort food’—food associated with the security of childhood, like mother’s poached egg or famous chicken soup,” 

Some scientists have conducted research on why people eat comfort food. One of the most important reasons is the psychological benefit. A lot of people take comfort food to reduce stress and loneliness. It is not surprising that comfort food is often the favourite food from our childhood or it is positively associated with a specific person, place or time. 

Mum always cooked me special fried rice. This has become my comfort food (安慰食物; 暖心食物) even now I am studying abroad.