The Whole You October 2016 | Page 4

The Cold Crave: Why we crave comfort foods in cold weather Comfort food, the two words speak for themselves. We all have our fix and most of us have many that strike at random. The cravings range from cold ice cream to macaroni and cheese and everything in between. There is something to be said for seeking comfort in the chill of fall and winter in the form of foods and drinks. Everyone raves about pumpkin spice lattes, the whopping 380 calorie coffee that will set you back six dollars a pop. The coffee makers are onto something. The spicy aroma and familiar taste of a holiday dessert can be yours in a convenient cup of joe to go. Then there are some of us who would rather have a hot chocolate on a cold day or mom’s spaghetti. The list of what we crave is endless and varies day to day. Let’s talk about what drives us to eat comfort foods and if it is okay to indulge in them. Noshing for Nostalgia For me there is something about a hot turkey sandwich at a diner that brings comfort. Though I rarely find myself in a diner these days, I cannot resist a menu with that particular option on it. Likely from my childhood when my parents brought me and my brothers out to dinner as a treat. My father always ordered the turkey when it was there and I usually followed suit. It was our thing and only ours. So now when I order and eat a hot turkey sandwich I get taken back to that time and picture everything about that experiences and how great it was.