Comfort food is sometimes consumed to fill a void created by loneliness or as a calming influence in times of chaos. However, eating when you are stressed or anxious is not only more likely to make you reach for a bag of potato chips or chocolate, it can also cause tummy upsets as your body is not in optimum physical mode for digestion. Hardly the taste of happiness you were hoping for. Even worse, recent studies have shown that eating foods high in calories, saturated fat and salt (i.e. processed foods) may even lead to negative moods.
Luckily, the majority of us do not always consume comfort food in an attempt to get our happy pants back. Comfort food can be a beautiful thing. It can evoke feelings of nostalgia, cultural pride or even bring loved ones closer together. Cooking and eating with family and friends may also provide the added benefit of moderating your eating speed, allowing you to better appreciate the rich flavours and bursts of warmth the food can provide.
As a foodie first and a budding nutritionist second, I love to recreate old favourites with a health conscious twist. One of the easiest ways to produce fresh healthy meals is to shop locally and in season. This will enable you to include a delicious vegetable or fruit element in your dish, which is always beneficial to your health.
Classic bolognese
Spaghetti bolognese is one of my all-time favourite comfort foods, but my tum doesn’t always thank me after a big bowl of pasta. For a low-carb, gluten-free option, I cook off some onion and garlic in coconut oil, add veal and pork mince, stir in grated carrot, zucchini and eggplant, then simmer with tomato passata, red chilli and dried herbs. I then use the Bolognese as a filling for baked stuffed tomatoes.
This dish is a great way to add some extra vegetables to the menu without the gluten hit. These little guys could be the perfect addition to your next lunch with friends, or an easy dinner on the couch.
Annie is a budding nutritionist from Melbourne. Not only does she love all things health and wellness, she is also a foodie who believes we eat to nourish our mind, body and soul. Find Annie's recipe at www.nourish-d.com