What Do Your Favorite Comfort Foods Say About You?

By ChefErin Nov 06, 2009

I recently read a summary of a report by the Center for Culinary Development (CCD) that discussed trends in generational comfort foods. The idea that different generations might crave different comfort foods fascinated me, so I decided to create my own informal poll examining both generational and regional influence on comfort foods.

My survey was simple. I asked people to identify: their generation, their favorite comfort food, and where they were raised. In all, I received nearly 100 responses from around the country.

So, here are the results of my little poll. When it comes to comfort foods; starches and fats topped the list. In general we crave pasta, potatoes, and cheese, most of all. Sweets, including ice cream, cookies, and chocolate, are a close second.

In terms of generational influence, Baby Boomers seemed to long for foods that remind them of their childhoods; home-cooked comfort. High among the results were casseroles, stews, and roasted meals.

Gen Xers hungered for grilled cheese sandwiches, potatoes in all forms - from mashed to chips - and pastas. They were also more likely to mention Mexican foods like burritos, tacos and nachos than other generations.

Gen Yers craved convenience foods like pizza, cookies, and chips, but continued the international food trend with Asian dishes like sushi and miso soup.

I didn’t find huge generational trends from region to region. However, there were regional generalities. I found that Easterners liked belly-warming dishes like pastas, stews, and soups. Midwesterners were fond of sweets and potatoes, particularly mashed potatoes and gravy. West Coasters had a desire for Mexican and Asian food. Southerners often mentioned baked goods like cookies or biscuits.

So what was the most mentioned comfort food of all? Macaroni and Cheese, of course.

What are some of your favorite comfort foods?

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Comments

by blusuthrnbelle | hokes bluff, AL

Nov 28, 2009

Starches are my favorite-hasbrowns, biscuits, pasta dishes, you name it, i love it! Nothing makes you feel good like a home cooked meal.

by rechelle1 | Kimball, NE

Nov 26, 2009

Crunchy is and always has been my go-to comfort food- has anyone tried the Kerr's Horseradish and Cheddar chips? mmmmmmmm...........

by COOKIESANDCREAM | NEW YORK, NY

Nov 25, 2009

im a xer too love pasta could eat it everyday if it wouldnt make that fat..and also a y er lol love pizza also shrimps.. and of course chocolate but i guess thats a women thing. its also true i love potatos..in all kind of forms especially gratin or with sauce..and from time to time i get fruit gravings lol guess thats my body telling me ok now we need some healthy

by lserfling | Kitty Hawk, NC

Nov 24, 2009

Mac and cheese is my comfort food; too bad it is not WW friendly!

by emma2499 | Apex, NC

Nov 23, 2009

I have a few. I love shortbread cookies...especially Walkers. A good hearty soup on a cold day. And of course chips and green onion dip...yum

by Gott2beme | Rockford, OH

Nov 22, 2009

hmmmm my comfort food would have to be what my mother had always made on a nice cold winter day...... Green Beans with potatoes and ham and cornbread! Think I'm going to go make some now!!

by goal130 | Cahokia, IL

Nov 21, 2009

This is funny because earlier today I had to look up red eye gravy because I was craving it so bad! I would love to have them with homemade biscuits. I love collard greens cooked with fatback, pintos, and country ham with sweet iced tea. Okay I have to leave this because I am getting really hungry!

by breadrye | glenolden, PA

Nov 20, 2009

Mexican spicy food,god how I love to eat spicy food I even put cajun on every meat I cook sometimes way to much for the kids and I get told to cut back its to hot.

by MommyKiki | ONALASKA, WI

Nov 19, 2009

I love a good hot panini sandwich and soup! MMmmm..

by lynn9821 | Venice, FL

Nov 19, 2009

For sure mashed potatoes and meatloaf. Nothing better when you are feeling like a pick-up on a cold winters night.

by c5dcc1 | BUFORD, GA

Nov 19, 2009

chocolate is my comfort food and having blanket on me while eating it.. also for meal it would be steak , baked potato.

by tif_ki | Sebring, OH

Nov 18, 2009

yummy yummy this post is making my stomach growl. I love baked goods and choco chip cookies. and cheese always makes everything taste better. i am also a huge fan of chips and dip. any chip any dip. i love love love buffallo chicken dip. yumm!!

by loli1707 | BONITA, CA

Nov 17, 2009

Rolled Tacos, or anything fried ....

by girl17 | EAGAN, MN

Nov 15, 2009

cheesy potatoes, ground beef, and green beans all baked together in a casserole...Yummy!

by lacey192002 | Texarkana, TX

Nov 15, 2009

I crave all of the ones listed. Definately an accurate test.