Comfort foods.
Those snacks that make us feel happy when we have had a rough day, got bad news, or just as a pick-me-up. Recently, a list of the top 50 comfort foods was published by Rankers. This consumer-voting website shared their results of American preferences . . . and dairy was at the very top of the list and found throughout the remaining food items.
Whether it was a grilled cheese sandwich, chocolate (milk chocolate is my preference), pizza, or ice cream, dairy claimed portions of the top four spots . . . and many more throughout the list.
I am a very picky eater — just ask anyone who has ever eaten at a banquet next to me or sat in a restaurant while I make special requests to my order — hold those, don’t put any of that on there, and so forth. With that in mind, I was very surprised to see that I love to eat all of the top 16 items! That must either make me a very comforted person or someone who needs comfort? Not sure there, but let’s think about these top foods.
Some of the foods were considered snacks, desserts, some beverages (no alcoholic options were listed), or main entrees like lasagna, meatloaf, and pot roast.
The way I figure it, dairy is a part of about half of the items listed, but that includes when I add butter, sour cream, and shredded cheese on my baked potatoes or butter to my pancakes.
When I look at this list of 50 food items, I see dairy used in a variety of ways from the breakfast cereal option at No. 36, to warm buttered bread at No. 34, to a bowl of frozen yogurt at No. 39. Dairy has the variety and diversity to lift the spirits of a lot of people in different forms.
Why do you think dairy is so much a part of this Comfort Food list that make people feed so good? I think it is the flavor, the simplicity, and accessibility. Next time you need to get happy, think dairy and grab a hot chocolate, mozzarella sticks, pudding, or pie a la mode!
The author is the online media manager and is responsible for the website, webinars, and social media. A graduate of Modesto Junior College and Fresno State, she was raised on a California dairy and frequently blogs on youth programs and consumer issues.
Join us April 10, 2017 for the webinar
“A breath of fresh air – ventilating barns"
Nigel Cook, D.V.M., University of Wisconsin-Madison
This webinar will cover basic design concepts required for effective natural ventilation and examine the reasons producers struggle to keep cows cool in summer. He will discuss ventilation systems in seven different U.S. regions.
