Page 46 - March-2015-Life-in-Naples-Magazine
P. 46
FcOomOforDt
by Allen Weiss, MD, MBA, FACP, FACR should also be a diet changer.
In a recent poll the most frequently named comfort foods
FPresident and CEO, NCH Healthcare System
ood that is associated with fond memories brings back in America were apple pie, baked beans, beef stew, chicken
happiness and comfort when we see, smell, and enjoy soup, fried chicken, green bean casserole, macaroni and cheese,
these treats years later. mashed potatoes, meatloaf, pot roast, pudding (chocolate or
Celebrated chef Wolfgang Puck puts it this way: “I tapioca), pumpkin pie, tomato soup, and tuna casserole. Most
grew up in Austria, and for me real comfort food is Wiener of these foods require little chewing and remind us of our
Schnitzel. Wiener Schnitzel and mashed potatoes because it childhood when easy-to-eat foods were the mainstay of our
reminds me of my youth and it feels very comforting.” diets. Traditionally, childhood mealtimes were good times when
we gathered, socialized, had positive feedback and filled our
Many of us remember Mom’s cooking and special recipes, bellies.
particularly at holiday and celebration times.
Food likings might also be indicative of certain personality
The essence of comfort food is that it cheers us up. As infants traits. One food psychologist says: “Men and women crave
and youngsters we all learn or become habituated to certain types different foods. While women tend to yearn for sweet, indulgent
of foods. Our taste buds and appetites are directed in certain foods like chocolate, men usually seek hot dishes like pizza.
ways and we tend to stick to that pattern for the rest of our lives. Such preferences may reveal personality traits creating a synergy
between person and food. For instance, men are more likely than
Author and poet Maya Angelou remembered it this way: women to find steak comforting, as it reinforces a traditional
“The best comfort food will always be greens, cornbread and macho personality.”
fried chicken.”
There are real physiological reasons for the strong association
These comfortable eating habits are hard to change but
should be modified when greater motivations are present. A
change in health status (such as a heart attack, diabetes, high
blood pressure or needing to lose weight for medical reasons)
46 Life in Naples | March 2015
