The Significance of Having Comfort Foods
Written by Destiny Vickerie
There’s something magical about autumn. Perhaps because it’s the season of change; trees are shedding their leaves, and the air smells like a fall-themed air freshener with a scent reading, “Pinetree spice and all things nice”. From the beautiful brown and red scenic environment to the cooler weather, fall just pulls at the heartstrings. Not to mention, it is a great and comforting gift anyone would want to receive after dealing with those hotter temperatures from the months before.
This fall, I discovered a hidden gem on my college campus. I didn’t think I’d develop a newfound love for any drink or food besides chocolate milk or mac and cheese. Somehow, though, I did. As I was on my way to the library for an assignment-completing session—as I like to call it—I decided to stop by Saxbys first to try the new Chai Fit Frolatte drink on the menu. Saxbys is a popular student-led cafe on most New Jersey college campuses that offers a variety of breakfast and lunch options.
These options range from breakfast sandwiches, breakfast burritos, grilled cheese sandwiches, muffins, desserts, smoothies, fruit shakes, and the list goes on and on! My go-to meal order is the Breakfast Grilled Three Cheese sandwich. Since I wanted to branch out and try something new, the smoothie seemed like the perfect choice. After I took my first sip, it immediately tasted too good to be true. So now, the Chai Fit Frolatte has become one of my newest comfort drinks to have before classes and during the day.
The closest comparison I can make with this smoothie is to the avocado shake I used to drink in high school that my dad made. The smoothie itself doesn’t taste like avocados, but the nutty-protein flavor is very similar—perhaps that’s why I enjoy it so much.
With that, I started to wonder about the various types of comfort foods I did have and why they were special to me in the first place. What made them so different from the other foods that I like to eat? Well, these comfort foods were special to me because they reminded me of moments from my childhood. I don’t know exactly what it is about the Chai Fit Frolatte, but drinking it instantly brings me back to my younger days. The cinnamon taste reminds me of soggy graham crackers after being dipped in milk—which I still love with a passion. Comfort foods never really leave you, but instead they awaken your senses, reminding you of the good times that came before.
My comfort foods are not only nostalgic, but they are also comforting. When I find myself stressed or just tired after a long day, eating my comfort foods just refreshes me. Whether it is because of the taste or the smell, I’m just left feeling good inside. What makes comfort foods even greater is their ability to be something to look forward to. If we’re using the Chai Fit Frolatte drink example again (this is my last time, I promise), I treat myself to it after accomplishing a task on my to-do list. Creating little reward systems for myself has been a fun addition to this semester and a cool incentive to stay on track. That’s the beautiful thing about comfort foods: there’s no end to their significance in one's life.
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What are some of your favorite comfort foods? 🥧 ☕