In these unprecedented times, it has become more important than ever for families to cling to their time-honored traditions. Every region and culture in the United States has its own version of comfort food passed down for generations. For people living in the south, this might look like biscuits and gravy, cornbread, and fried vegetables, such as tomatoes and okra. If you’re in the Midwest, you might find comfort in casseroles, tater tots, and macaroni and cheese. Those living on the East Coast typically enjoy bagels, fruit pies, and clam chowder. No matter where you go, you’ll find some variation of hot, home cooked meals that have been perfected over the past decades.
If you’ve been feeling anxious or isolated, comfort food can help you get your mind off the pandemic and focus on what’s really important. Here are a few ways that comfort food can help you and your family while you wait for life to go back to normal.
Making Comfort Food Gets Your Mind off the Stress
When you’re stressed, you typically don’t feel like cooking. But in these uncertain times, getting back in the kitchen can help you de-stress and focus on something else. When you’re preparing a big meal, you don’t have time to worry. Instead, you’re focused on mixing the ingredients, getting the platter in the oven, baking the rolls, searching for your food thermometer, and setting the table. You can focus on something you enjoy doing instead of dwelling on future-based anxieties.
When dinner is ready, you’ll be able to sit down to a delicious meal with your family. And once you’re done, it’s time for clean-up! Washing the dishes might not be particularly enjoyable, but that’s another hour you won’t spend worrying about the pandemic. Cooking a big meal essentially blocks out your entire evening. You can focus on doing something enjoyable instead of stressing all night.
Cooking Together is a Great Family Activity
When was the last time the whole family got together in the kitchen for a big family cookout? If you’ve got young children, you know they always want to be involved in everything. Why not let them help out and be part of the big family dinner? Your spouse or partner can get involved and offer their own unique expertise. Cooking dinner together is a great way to bond with your family and spend time together when you would have otherwise been separated. You can even work together to plan a meal that contains everyone’s favorite dishes. And instead of sitting around the house eating takeout, you’ll be creating memories that you’ll treasure for the rest of your lives.
Enjoying Comfort Food Helps You Get in Touch With Your Heritage
When you’re not sure what the future holds, it’s easy to lose sight of what’s really important. Cooking comfort food can help you get in touch with your family’s heritage. You probably have an old cookbook or two lying around that was passed down from an older family member. The recipes could be years or even decades old. You’ve had that book lying around in the attic for years, so why not open it up and give it a whirl? You’ll learn about your family’s unique history, and enjoy some delicious food in the process.
Enjoying comfort food also puts you in touch with your community’s history. Many comfort food recipes have been perfected and passed around through friends and family members for generations. Every region in the United States has its own take on delicious, hearty meals that take you back to the “old days” of sit-down family dinners. Maybe your region is famous for clam chowder or a special variation on macaroni and cheese. As you learn about these dishes, you’ll start to realize that your culture existed before the pandemic, and it’ll still be here long after it’s over.
Finally, here’s a parting note before you go: In times of crisis and uncertainty, it may be tempting to turn to alcohol or drugs. If you find yourself in an endless cycle, please know that there are ways to get help without feeling like a pariah. One of these ways is intensive outpatient treatment from centers such as Nexus Recovery Services in Los Angeles. Don’t let too much of a good thing ruin your life. Eat, drink, and be happy!
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