What Is Considered Comfort Food (and Can It Be Healthy)? - GoodRx (2024)

We eat to live, but food is about more than survival. It’s an important part of family, culture, and identity. People share meals to celebrate, communicate, and comfort. Some foods remind you of good times from the past. Other foods you may reach for when you feel lonely or stressed.

But does comfort food really make you feel better? And can it be good for you?

What is comfort food?

Comfort food gets its name from the good feelings it brings up when you eat it. Comfort foods vary by country and culture. Some are familiar to an entire community. Others are significant to an individual or a family.

People reach for comfort foods for a variety of different reasons:

• The foods may be linked to memories or traditions. It could be a special dish that was always a part of family celebrations. Or it could be a homemade meal that you ate when you felt sick or sad.

• Our emotions can make us crave them. You may want certain foods when you’re feeling sad or stressed, for example.

• Someone’s environment may trigger a comfort food craving. For example, you may enjoy a particular food when you’re out with friends. Or maybe you have a go-to snack after a long day at work.

Comfort foods are often high in sugar, fat, and salt — or all three. That doesn’t mean comfort food needs to be unhealthy. But it does always taste good.

Why do you crave certain foods?

Comfort food activates dopamine. This is a chemical in the brain that makes you feel good. It also makes you want more of the same thing. For example, maybe you’re worried or anxious. If so, you may focus more on how food makes you feel, rather than if it’s healthy or not. You might also keep eating after you’re full.

Dr. Sylvia Karasu, clinical professor of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine and an expert in obesity and eating behaviors, says that “comfort foods can bring temporary relief from stress.” But there’s a longer-term impact, she says, in how comfort foods “can hijack the reward systems in the brain.”

“This can lead to intense cravings, feelings of guilt, lack of self-control, binge eating, and other eating disorders,” Dr. Karasu says. Ultimately, giving in to our comfort food cravings can cause us to favor immediate relief, she says, instead of a healthier lifestyle in the long run.

The “relief from stress” is why many people also turn to comfort food when they feel lonely. This was common during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Foods you enjoy increase serotonin and activate endorphins. These are chemicals your body makes that improve mood and relieve pain. Certain foods can also remind you of your connections to other people.

You may also crave comfort food because smell and taste are closely tied to memory in the brain. So, if you want to keep a good mood going, comfort food is one way to tap into happy memories.

Does comfort food have health benefits?

There are proven health benefits to feeling connected with others. So, if you’re enjoying a meal with someone else, that’s good for your physical and mental health. And people often share comfort food when someone is sick, sad, or grieving. Feeling cared for helps you to bounce back after an illness or a stressful event.

Can you have too much of a good thing?

If your mind is occupied or stressed, it’s easy to eat too much. This is especially true if the food tastes good and there’s plenty of it around.

As Dr. Karasu points out, "Evolutionarily, food cravings may have been positive in that they led to a search for a variety of foods.” But these cravings can be bad when there’s so much high-calorie, processed food available, she says.

When you’re stressed, your body makes a hormone called cortisol. High levels of cortisol and high-calorie foods cause your body to store fat, especially around your middle. And that can increase your risk for conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

Emotional eating might make you feel better for a little while. And that is OK. It is human nature to look for ways to deal with strong emotions. But it may actually make you feel worse in the long run. Weight gain, and the inflammation it causes, can increase your risk for depression. So, if you don’t have other coping mechanisms for stress, your health could be at risk down the line.

Are there alternatives to comfort food?

Sometimes, a situation calls for comfort food. Enjoy it when it’s part of a celebration, or as an occasional treat.

But if you think you’re getting too much of a good thing, try these tips:

• Incorporate heart-healthy foods into your favorite dishes. Sneak in some fruits, vegetables, or whole grains. Try not to add too much salt. Use cooking oils made from plants, or skip frying altogether.

• Practice mindful eating. Pay attention to your food when eating. Slow down and enjoy the experience. Learn how your body feels when you’re hungry and when you’re full.

• Make it easier for yourself. Have a healthier version of your favorite foods around for everyday eating.

• Pay attention to your triggers. Common reasons for indulging include feeling tired, stressed, lonely, bored, or distracted.

• Eat your favorite foods, but watch the portion size. Plan to take home half your meal when you’re eating out. Go for individual portions instead of eating out of a large package or serving dish. Try healthy snacks between meals so you don’t get too hungry.

Most importantly, explore how other stress relievers work for you. Don’t feel guilty if food relieves your stress sometimes. But also experiment with taking a walk, calling a friend, or meditating. You can take up a new hobby. You could even try making some healthier foods work for you. Some studies suggest that eating fruits and vegetables makes you feel happier than high-fat or high-carb options.