Your Health

Have you ever had a day when you just wanted hot food that made you feel so cozy and comfortable?  These foods we tend to refer to as ‘comfort food.’

The University of Illinois conducted surveys to learn more about what foods people tend to lean on for comfort.  Here are some things they found:

• 40% of foods were meats, main dishes, soups usually home made
• the top 3 foods for women were ice cream, chocolate and cookies
• the top 3 foods for men were ice cream, soup, pizza and pasta

Science Daily reported a study co-authored by a Cornell food marketing expert to measure what mood triggers our desire to have comfort food.  Two movies were chosen – ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ (the funny move) and ‘Love Story’ (a sad movie) and measured the amount of hot buttered salty popcorn and seedless grapes that were eaten.  The results reveled that those who watched ‘Love Story’ ate 36% more popcorn  than those who watched the upbeat film.  

One interesting point on comfort food is it is often something that brings about a feeling from our past.  When you were young and were feeling under the weather did your mom make you chicken noodle soup?  If so, you think of chicken noodle soup when you are not feeling so good not because it cures you, but rather makes you feel good or loved.

Here are some simple ‘comfort’ swaps you can do to make healthier choices:

• Ben and Jerry’s Ice cream at 300 calories per half cup – for Breyers Fat Free Cookies and cream at 110 calories per half cup
  
• McCain French Fries – for Mann’s Sweet Potato at only 60 Calories and 250% your daily Vitamin A and 3 grams of fiber
• Carnation Rich Hot chocolate with 2% – with 1 cup Skim milk, 1.5 tbsp cocoa and 2 tsp agave nectar

If you are looking for a hot dish to serve to your family for a comfort food fix – check out this Chili Recipe – packed with almost 7 grams of fiber which will not only satisfy your appetite but keep your bowels in motion.