The Beauty of Comfort Food

We are a fat nation. By far, the USA has more than its fair share of over weight–obese– individuals. Our portions are larger than they should be, and we eat when we are not hungry because food literally surrounds us. We know all this, and still we must eat, and we must choose wisely and consciously.

Part of the reasons we eat so much and so often, is because food comforts us. When we were sick, Mom made us our favorite meals so we felt better. When we are upset, friends get together with us to eat ice cream or other rich indulgences. When we are PMSing, we sooth our menstrual souls with chocolate– and it works!!

But there really is a reason we have our own comfort foods, many of them handed down through generations. We will always need them, and find comfort in them. They are like the warm hug for the tummy and the soul all wrapped up into one. They give us the nurturing we need when nothing else is available, or when nothing else will do! And so the challenge is to find the comfort foods (or modify the ones you have) that are healthy choices—that give nourishment to the body as well as the psyche!

I have to confess, my desk drawer is often occupied by a dark chocolate bar, always organic and fair-trade, at least 60% cacao. It is my de-stressor, my mini decompression station in between patients when I am having a taxing day. Another comfort food for me is nut butter. I could easily eat it from a spoon (I have, and I am sure I will again) but I try to have it on slices of apple or a slice of rye meal bread. It feels so good to me, so right, that I can’t explain it, other than that it “hits the spot” every time.

Sometimes you need to have cooked, prepared comfort foods, and this is where many people fall for things like mac & cheese, a greasy burger, or a mile high pile of mashed potatoes. I want to share with you a wonderful, nutritious and so satisfying “comfort food” dish that I created last year, that I actually just got finished eating! It is a quick, healthful version of baked eggplant “parm”.

Baked Eggplant Maybe Parm :

Preheat oven to 375. Oil a cookie sheet. Peel and slice a large eggplant into 1/2-3/4″ slices. Place on cookie sheet. Spray with cooking oil, and dust liberally with Mrs. Dash Italian seasoning. Bake for 15-20 minutes, and watch them so they don’t dry out. Flip them over, spray again and dust again with seasonings. Bake an additional 10 minutes. Slices should be soft. Take out your baking dish, and spray with cooking spray, and then open a can of crushed or chopped canned tomatoes. You can use either– you get a different effect with each one. Cover the bottom of the baking dish with tomato, then add a layer of eggplant. If you want cheese, dust with a grating of Parmesan. More eggplant, then tomatoes, then more Parm. Make sure the eggplant is lightly covered with sauce, or it might get dry. Bake for about 20 minutes, to heat everything up.

This is SO good and simple. And comforting. I don’t think I need any chocolate…

How can you make food a healthy, comforting experience? Take time to read through magazines or cook books or search the Web. I really like the www.eatingwell.com site. Find recipes you like that are good for you to make and good for you to eat. Choose the recipes wisely, and make them ones you can pass on to your family. Nourish your body and soul and teach the next generation how to do it well.

Namaste,

Diane