Finding comfort in food

Ever wondered what you do when you are upset or even happy. It is noticed when a person is sad, a comforting meal with instantly cheer him/her up. When someone’s happy, he/she will again eat a scrumptious meal because why not? Even when someone succeeds in something, first thing that slips our mouth is “party” which means a nice meal. Why does this happen. Why does food just make us happy even when we are dying on the inside? Let’s get to know.

It depends on a lot of reasons, for some food is about tradition, for some it is about memories and nostalgia and for some it’s pure love for food. Everyone relates food with different emotions, but all end up branching from the same root of love. Ask a person who stays in hostel, the value of a home-cooked meal. Ask a worker about his simple meal that he earned by working all day. Food is a necessity, yes but food is also an emotion, an emotion of comfort that one finds after biting on to that morsel.

Talking about tradition, every family has a recipe that they have been cooking for years and it has now become a staple. Something they have been making for generations and will continue making for the generations to come. Something that they have been eating since forever. The recipe can be elaborate or simple, its not about the time it takes to cook the meal nor is it about how complicated it is, it is about tradition and love that has been poured in while making it. It ignites a sense of comfort and we appreciate it more every time.

As mentioned for some, it is about memories. Something that they used to eat and loved. When people are away from home, they might eat at the fanciest restaurants and taste the most expensive food, the comfort that one gets from eating food made by mum can never be replaced. That morsel has memories attached to it, hence it is never about the money spend on it, instead it is always about the feeling one gets.

The satisfaction that one gets eating food after working for it and earning that is something that has no alternative or substitute. Every person works endlessly to fulfil their basic needs, food being one of them. The comfort and satisfaction of eating after earning is special. This is why it is said to not waste food. We are the lucky ones to get to eat and experience the feeling of getting full while there aren’t many people who are as fortunate as us. Being grateful to what we have is underrated and underappreciated but this is something we must all be.