The term comfort food refers to any food or drink to which one habitually turns for temporary respite, security, or special reward. The reasons that something becomes a comfort food are diverse but include the food's familiarity, simplicity, and/or pleasant associations. Small children often seem to latch on to a specific food or drink (in a way similar to a security blanket) and will repeatedly request it in high stress situations. But adults are certainly not exempt.

Gender differences

List of comfort foods

While virtually any food or drink could potentially be a comfort food, the following is a list of the most common.

Food

• Apple pie
• Baked apples
• Bread
• Bread pudding
• Brownies
• Chicken noodle soup
• Chocolate
• Ice cream
• Macaroni and cheese
• Pizza
• Rice pudding
• Scrapple
• Soup

Drinks

• Hot chocolate
• Beer (or other alcoholic drink)

See also

• Midwestern cuisine
• Coping (psychology)

External links

• Gender preferences in "comfort" foods stem from childhood

Further reference

• "Comfort foods" by Rachel Ray (ISBN 1891105051)