May 10, 2012

Would You Like a Side of Comfort with That?



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I'm joining up with Brenda and the gang for Pondering With A Purpose....which I love!  I know Thursday is one day I'm not going to have to come up with a topic on my own and the way things have been going this week....that's a very good thing.  You can click on the button over there to the left to visit Brenda's blog for the rules if you want to join in (Did I mention this is a blog hop kind of thing?) or to see the list of links to the other participants.

This week's prompt:  Comfort Food


Wouldn't you know that the day I resolve to get really, really, really serious about this diet business (stocked up on veggies on the way home from work and I bought a little notebook last night that I am recording absolutely everything in....what I eat, when I eat, how I'm feeling at the time, any exercise, etc.) we have to bring up comfort food.  

So, what is comfort food?  The first thing that comes to mind is that it's usually really bad for you.  It's a forbidden pleasure.  Why?  Because for most people I know, their comfort foods are fatty and rich or sugary or starchy.  We like these foods because they act as a drug.  They cause our bodies to release all those feel-good hormones.  A good round of exercise will do that, too, but who'd rather do 10 miles on the treadmill than have Mom's pot roast with mashed potatoes and gravy?  Seriously?  Have you ever heard anyone say, "I am so stressed!  Pass me the broccoli."  And if anybody does....I think they're lying and that as soon as they get home alone they bust out the Ben & Jerry's.
Would you rather do this?
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Or this?
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A lot of people associate comfort food with the foods their mom or grandma used to make.  I don't really remember feeling that way about anything my family cooked when I was growing up, though my Nana's big country breakfasts with eggs fried in bacon drippings were pretty darn good.  What I mostly remember reaching for and eating mindlessly was chips and Pepsi.  

In college, sitting around the day after a party, nursing a hangover and rehashing the night with friends, it was Domino's Pizza all the way!

Throughout my 20s and 30s I couldn't get enough popcorn.

And now?  I've discovered the heavenly bliss of zucchini fries with ranch dressing, though I wouldn't turn down chocolate, Chinese take-out, or any seafood, and I still like my salty carbs washed down with Pepsi or Coke.

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Nobody in this house matches up on comfort foods so we can't even share.  The hubber likes oatmeal (bleeech!) and cereal and ice cream.  Our daughter likes pierogies and cheeseburger macaroni.  It's been so long since our son lived at home I can't remember what his favorite comfort food was....the salty carbs, I think.

So, what's your comfort food?  

If you say broccoli....I will hear nothing but Ben & Jerry's.

8 comments:

Wendy S. said...

Ahhh comfort food, the bane of the devil ;) I like everyone else have the foods that call to me and one day, I asked myself "self, what do I need comfort for?" I then try, not always successfully to figure out why I'm reaching for my beloved comfort foods. Sometimes, it's that time of the month and nothing can satisfy my cravings than what I'm going for. Other times, it's emotional though and it might take me a time to figure out what's going on with me. I always like your posts and the zucchini fries sound delish!

Wendy S. said...

Ahhh comfort food, the bane of the devil ;) I like everyone else have the foods that call to me and one day, I asked myself "self, what do I need comfort for?" I then try, not always successfully to figure out why I'm reaching for my beloved comfort foods. Sometimes, it's that time of the month and nothing can satisfy my cravings than what I'm going for. Other times, it's emotional though and it might take me a time to figure out what's going on with me. I always like your posts and the zucchini fries sound delish!

Brenda said...

So, if I say Ben & Jerry's you'll hear broccoli? ;)
I'll have to say my comfort food is Malt O Meal with Hershey's dark chocolate chips that I have nearly every morning.
Now that we're eating healthier (I know, the above mentioned breakfast isn't the healtiest!) But, over all, the foods I used to consider comfort--a big bag of Doritos for instance--don't taste good to me anymore, and while I'm not necessarily reaching for broccoli I am enjoying a good salad or quality yogurt instead. And walking for me really does release those good feelings and it makes me more selective on what I eat.
How's that for a long comment?!

Ellen aka Ellie said...

I'm so tired tonight, I can't think of one. Sigh.

Red Vines maybe?

Beth Zimmerman said...

Dear goodness ... way to make zucchini UNhealthy!

2 things ... 1.) The Whoopie Pies of my youth which have finally (Lord God HELP me!) made it to Oklahoma and the shelves of the local convenience stores! and 2.) Braums Mix, Sonic Blast, Dairy Queen Blizzard ... whatever ... swirl ice cream/yogurt with both Heath Bar and Peanut Butter Cup!

No Broccoli anywhere in sight ... and the treadmill is buried in a pile of laundry!

Stacy said...

Wendy...I hear you different cravings for different times. PMS definitely requires chocolate and nothing else will do. I'm trying these days to stop and ask God to help me be strong before I indulge.

Brenda...I like the way you think! The walking does make you feel good. I am, unfortunately, prone to eating the good stuff and then taking the walk after. We're trying to eat better around here, too. My daughter and I are making progress. The husband not so much.

Ellen...(((hugs))) for your rough week. What are red vines?

Beth...I know, but sooooo good. :/ We got rid of the treadmill a long time ago because no one used it. I advertised it as "low mileage."

Unknown said...

I think we are foody sisters... same types of cravings.. and by the way I have a recipe for 'baked' fried zucchini... check out my pinterest page.... it is to die for and much less greasy!

Thanks for pondering with me.... and good luck with the diet!

Stacy said...

Brenda...I will have to check that out. Less greasy would be GOOD!

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