The Importance of Comfort Foods

Ah, the comforts of a buttery bowl of pasta, or mashed potatoes and gravy. A casserole of mac and cheese, hot and bubbly out of the oven. Now that is true comfort food, real Americana.  Real unhealthy, actually. But what to do on those cold, long wintery nights, when salad and veggies just don’t “do it”?  Or what about the nights when you come home from work, stressed out of your mind, and need, well, some comfort? Comfort food is a necessity, especially in this day and age of uncertainty. It provides nourishment of body and soul and makes us believe that deep down, everything will be all right.

There is no time like winter time to bring out the need for honest to goodness comfort food. Food that warms the tummy and warms the soul. The days are cold and dark, and we are hungrier than we are in the warmer months. But many of our traditional comfort foods are laden with saturated fats and unbelievable calories, so are we destined to yearn for casserole while chewing on celery? No!

Enter the whole grains. You have to learn to love these little guys. Brown rice, black rice, wild rice, oh my! Real cooked oatmeal, quinoa and barley. The list goes on and on. Grains are full of fiber and protein, and countless nutrients including the B vitamins (which we burn through when we are stressed out!) Cook up a big pot of rice on Sunday and use it all week long. Or a quick cooking quinoa with a bit of sauce is comforting indeed. I like a big bowl of real oatmeal for breakfast with rice milk, some seeds and chopped fruit. And if I need comfort in the evenings, I might have it then, too! Let’s not forget the lonely corn kernel, because it makes the awesome polenta! Get out your pot and it is ready in 10 minutes from the time the water starts to boil. Eat it as is, all gooey and soft, or let it firm up and saute` it in a fry pan wiht some olive oil and parmesan. The list of good and good for you comfort foods is long. It is only limited by your imagination! Just tonight I made a huge batch of venison chili in my crock pot which I served over squares of polenta. So good, and the beans and corn compliment one another by giving us a complete protein with all amino acids accounted for.

So when you are looking for something yummy, hot, soft and satisfying, think about the grains. Cook up some hot cooked cereal and see if you don’t feel much better. I think you will. Drizzle on some flavored oil, some cheese, or stir in some milk and cinnamon. Go wild and experiment- grains are so versatile I am certain you will discover some signature recipes that will delight your family!

Stay warm, stay active!

Diane