Body Clutter Mission #1

First memory of comfort food:

Chicken Pot Pie. This was my favorite meal and I could eat a ton of it. It is creamy and delicious and my mom didn't make it very often. We were allowed to choose any meal that we wanted for our birthday, and mine was always chicken pot pie, which solidified the comfort connection in my mind. I learned years later (when I was watching my calories and fat) that chicken pot pie is basically crisco and flour dough in a cream of chicken sauce. VERY fattening. I don't remember how much fat per serving, but it is something like 50g. I've never made it myself, and it probably ought to stay that way.

Favorite food when I need comforting:

I don't know what my favorite comfort food is. I can tell you that it's not healthy. I will pretty much browse through the pantry and see what there is to eat, then eat it. Chocolate, candy, kettle corn, ice cream, biscuits and gravy, pop, cookies... and I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. Thanksgiving food is especially comforting for me.

Why is it so comforting?

I think Thanksgiving food (Turkey with gravy, pies (especially pumpkin), ham, YAMBAKE, pretzel salad, stuffing...) is so comforting because it is the start of my favorite holiday season. With the food come the memories of years of celebrations with family and college students. I look forward to Thanksgiving every year and it's because of the food, fellowship, and start of Christmas.

What is your first memory of using food to comfort yourself?

I don't honestly know when I first started using food to comfort myself. I think I've been doing it all my life. My dad does it, too. Often I eat just because it's there. Sometimes I crave, but mostly I just graze. I don't eat deliberately when I'm home by myself. I feel a need to eat something, so I'll just snack for a while until I've had snack after snack after snack. And then I eat dinner.