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Tell Me What You Eat… and Smile! ‘Tis the Season for Comfort Food

From the enduring classic (chocolate) to goulash, from moussaka to ice-cream and pizza, favorite foods that improve our mood from the first bite. Here, we took a closer look at comfort food around the world. It was a delicious journey.

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well,” Virginia Woolf wisely said. And nothing cheers one up like one’s favorite comfort food, we hasten to add.
At this advanced stage of fall, who doesn’t need a good pick-me-up? We can’t let the progressive dulling of the colors around us, the shorter days and the impending cold, ruin the moment. No, better to turn to nourish the soul with flavors we associate with happy times.

Every Dish Has a Story, and Every Story Has a Dish

The origin of the term “comfort food” is said to be a 1966 article from the daily Palm Beach Post, which discussed the consolatory effects of certain dishes, however humble, on American adults.

Comfort food is personal, subjective and deeply nostalgic. It reminds us of the recipes we loved as children, of the joy of eating during holiday gatherings, the meals we ate at our grandparents’ homes, at family brunches and on vacation.

There’s also the comfort food of movies: ice-cream straight from the carton after your heart is broken, hot chocolate on sad days, a sandwich made with leftover Thanksgiving turkey, big spaghetti dinners with classmates.

Each of us has a favorite, a dish that magically brings a smile to our face.
The main thing is to keep it special by not indulging too often.

So, What Are the World’s Leading Comfort Foods?

There’s the American grilled cheese sandwich, French onion soup and Japanese ramen. There’s also Austrian wiener schnitzel, Polish pierogi (stuffed dumplings), Chinese congee, Indian naan bread, Swiss fondue and Vietnamese phở, among many. Every country has its happy food. And then there are those borderless favorites: eggs, chocolate, bread and jam, chicken soup, Christmas sweets.

If you’re wondering what our favorite comfort food is here in the Vespa Magazine newsroom, know that it was a tough call, but in the end, pizza won out (followed closely by sushi).

It’s Science, Baby!
Let’s be clear: there’s comfort food, which is connected to our personal history, tastes and memories and might be overly high in fat or sugar (no nutritionist is going to sign off on that double cheeseburger with French fries, ketchup and fried onion rings!) and then there are healthy meals, really healthy meals, that lift our spirits.

Many studies have shown that the composition of some foods enhances our mood. Vitamins, folic acid, magnesium, tryptophane, antioxidants and other precious substances naturally contained in certain foods stimulate the production of, among other things, serotonin, dopamine and endorphins, all of which help fight stress, emotional tension and sadness.

So, what should we eat to feel better?
Try nuts, blueberries, eggs, yogurt, bananas, potatoes, honey, and most of all, dark chocolate.

Add Color to Your Plate

If you’re feeling a bit down and want to try something new, adding color is a good way to increase the happy quotient of any meal.
Go for recipes with fruits and vegetables in different colors, use spices and condiments freely and set your table with attractive plates and glasses.
If all else fails, remember that carbs always work!