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“Comfort Food” Might Not Always Mean Familiar Food
I’m sure for most people, diet and exercise routines get derailed when there’s upheaval, stress, or even chaos in their lives.
So it’s pretty easy to abandon salads and the gym for the sweet release of pastries, soda, chips, or whatever else makes it feel all better.
Its called “comfort food,” because curling up on the couch with a pint of ice cream helps you forget about losing your job, that mounting credit card bill, or your crazy ex.
But a new study challenges the notion that people stick to old standbys during periods of stress or when undergoing changes.
In fact, people may be inclined to try new things, claim researchers reporting in the Journal of Consumer Research. A series of experiments suggests people under high stress may prefer new snacks they’ve never tried before.
Scientists tested the “comfort food theory” by first asking groups of college students to guess what a stable person in the midst of change might eat, typical American potato chips or different flavors from British chip makers.
Kids said this person would stick with the chips they know. But when asked about their own lives and their own levels of stress, more participants picked the unfamiliar British chips.
Researchers think these stressful times may act as a catalyst for people to try new things. I agree, when I’m going through rough times, I mix my favorites, like sushi and cookies, with new stuff. Last time it was a chocolate breakfast cereal.
Via HealthDay News.
Image credit: The Rumpus
Posted in Nutrition & Health
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