Have you ever been having a particularly awful day, arrive home, and head directly for the junk food section of your cupboard? (I know that at least a few among us have put down a pint of ice cream in a single sitting on a particularly rough Friday night.) But have you ever wondered specifically why we experience that overwhelming urge to grub down?
A recent study led by Jordan D. Troisi, Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of the South, found that there's a reason we have an urge to pick up the fork when we're feeling particularly downtrodden. It seems that "comfort foods" offer some level of complacency for people who're lonely.
TIME Magazine reports Troisi's findings:
“Comfort food seems to be something people associate very significantly with close relationships,” says Troisi. “This probably comes about by individuals coming to associate a particular food item with members of their family, social gatherings, and people taking care of them, which is why we see a lot of comfort foods [that are] traditional meals or things had at a party.”
But Troisi also explains that it’s not necessarily the foods themselves, but the experiences we’ve built around those foods socially that heighten those feelings of belonging.
So here's to hoping we can all remember this next time we have a tiresome day at the office!
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There's a reason you crave "comfort food."
Comfort foods offer a sense of belonging and shared experiences.
It's not necessarily unfathomable that you reach for the pizza after a long day.
"Comfort food seems to be something people associate very significantly with close relationships,” says Troisi.
We associate comfort food with our friends and family.
“This probably comes about by individuals coming to associate a particular food item with members of their family, social gatherings, and people taking care of them," says Troisi, "which is why we see a lot of comfort foods [that are] traditional meals or things had at a party.”
Especially when you're feeling lonely, comfort foods may seem like a good idea.
And now you know why!
Please SHARE this article with your comfort food-loving friends!
