When people are asked to define comfort foods, the answer is variable. There are as many variations to the answer as there are individuals who are asked the question. What makes something a comfort food while others are not? Is it related to diet or type of recipe? Is it related to region or country?

At a restaurant, a waitress was asked the question of what she thought of when she was asked about comfort foods. She did not hesitate to answer, "Oh, meat loaf and potatoes, green beans. Stuff like that." When asked to describe how she came to her answer, she said, "These are the things that I had growing up at family meals." It appears she related to meals that she had at home with family.

Comfort foods remind people of home and family. It is food that gives them comfort, a sense of family and home. People think of family gatherings, holidays, and special occasions. It does not necessarily have to do with a secret family recipe (although the secret might be that eating gives members of the family a warm feeling of home). It is not surprising that everyone has an image of a family meal.

Comfort Foods - Yahoo! News Search Results
Comfort Foods - Yahoo! News Search Results

Healthy, Hearty Comfort Food
MISSION, KS-- - During the short days and cold nights of winter, many of us crave comfort foods. Unfortunately, the rich dishes we usually think of tend to be low in nutrition and packed with fat and calories. ...
Open & Shut: Veggie Grill's vegan comfort food comes to Beaverton
This week, a Beaverton location of the "fast casual" restaurant opened, serving 100 percent vegan American comfort foods like burgers, sandwiches and salads.
Giada?s winter comfort foods: Baked gnocchi, beef stew
If you?re looking for a little warmth on a chilly day, Giada De Laurentiis suggests these three recipes. Try Chianti marinated beef stew, chocolate cake tiramisu and more.
CRESALIA: Help children establish healthy eating habits
Children grow up with comfort foods like mac and cheese, hamburgers and chicken nuggets that are often paired with french fries and a sweet drink.
America's Best Comfort Foods
There are certain feel-good foods we universally reach for when we need to be comforted. A fragrant bowl of chicken soup. A dose of silky mashed potato. A 10-napkin serving of unctuous barbecue. Restaurant trends may come and go, but comfort foods are forever. Fortunately, America is awash with restaurants where the traditional never went out of style.
Put a healthier spin on favorite comfort foods
(ARA) - As the cool temperatures of fall and winter arrive, many people find themselves gravitating toward warming, rich foods. Many of those dishes are fondly remembered childhood favorites or even part of a longstanding family tradition.
Recipe of the Week: Healthy, hearty comfort food
Family Features During the short days and cold nights of winter, many of us crave comfort foods. Unfortunately, the rich dishes we usually think of tend to be low in nutrition and packed with fat and calories. Well, take heart.
Find Comfort on a Cold Day at Cracker Barrel®
Winter?s remedy is as close as the nearest Cracker Barrel Old County Store®. Guests can warm up by a cracklin? fire with a hearty helping of classic and brand new comfort foods fro
Foods to beat the winter blues
There is a reason you can feel sad and lethargic during the winter. The next time bad weather has got you down take a walk to the kitchen! Here are the foods to eat to beat the winter blues
Cookbook explores cozy comfort foods
Any day of the year can be the right time to make a favorite, warm-the-cockles-of-your-heart dish. A one-source compendium of such coziness is the softcover Fine Cooking Comfort Food (The Taunton Press, $19.95), from the editors of Fine Cooking magazine.