Comfort Foods without the Guilt

Remember the time you came from work, exhausted after a rough day, and who should you bump into but your ex with his newest cash? Yeah well, life’s like that. After a few hours of whining, your best bud comes over to bring you not only comforting words but comfort foods and you feel lucky indeed But then, comfort foods bring with them extra pounds. Now we wouldn’t want that, would we?

Comfort food is any food or drink to which one habitually turns for temporary respite, security, or special reward. The reasons that something becomes a comfort food are diverse but include the food’s familiarity, simplicity, and/or pleasant associations. We’ve all had experienced turning to food for comfort and consolation. But a majority of comfort foods are made up of carbohydrates that come from sugar, rice, and everything that isn’t nice. For others, comfort foods may mean something fatty and salty. But whether they’re sweet or salty, they are actually notorious for making you gain weight.

The connection between food and mood is great, especially when we are at our weakest emotionally. People who turn to food when depressed commonly experience its addictive power. Also, the pleasure of eating can offset negative feelings. Comfort foods may also help distract you from your worries, but only temporarily. As soon as you finish that pint of ice cream, you realize your problems weren’t solved; worse, you’ll even feel guilty about your mindless eating and calorie loading.

Avoid falling into the trap of comfort eating. Here are some suggestions to manage your need for comfort and still enjoy the warm and fuzzy feeling you get from your comfort foods:

Learn to recognize true hunger. Is your hunger physical or emotional? If you ate just a few hours ago and don’t have a rumbling stomach, you’re probably not really hungry. Give the craving a few minutes to pass.

Know your triggers. For the next several days, write down what you eat, how much you eat, when you eat, how you’re feeling when you eat and how hungry you are. Over time, you may see patterns emerge that reveal negative eating patterns and triggers to avoid.

Look elsewhere for comfort. Instead of unwrapping a candy bar, take a walk, treat yourself to a movie, listen to music, read or call a friend. Plan enjoyable events for yourself.

Snack healthy. If you feel the urge to eat between meals, choose a low-fat, low-calorie food, such as a fresh fuirt, vegetables with fat-free dip or unbuttered popcorn.

Eat a balanced diet. Try to eat a fairly regular times. Include foods from the basic groups in your meals. Emphasize whole grains, vegetables and fruits, as well as low-fat dairy products and lean protein sources. When you fill up the basics, you’re more like to feel fuller, longer.

Exercise regularly and get adequate rest. Your mood is more manageable and your body can more effectively fight stress when it’s fit and well rested. Find other ways to keep you busy and from raiding your pantry and fridge.

Some more tips to make those comfort foods somewhat healthier:

• Learn to boost the meal by adding lots of vegetables for color, fruits for the sweet taste, and other high in fiber food items.
• Savor the moment! But in small portions only. Know when to stop going back to buffet table. To make your plate look fuller, load on more fresh salads, fruit, steamed or roasted meals.
• When cooking your momma’s soul food recipe, try updating it a bit by using reduced fat ingredients. Experiment and try until you achieve the taste that you’re used to. It may not be exactly the same but at least it’s healthier.