Happy National Comfort Food Day!

by J.C. Kenney

Hi, folks and Happy Thursday! With December here, I think it’s safe to say the holiday season is in full swing. Last week, I got to enjoy not one, but two, Thanksgiving dinners. One was with the family of my lovely wife Nancy. The other was with the family of my younger kiddo’s fiancé. Great times, indeed!

Now, of course, we have some major holidays just around the corner. Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s, among others. Today, I want to give another holiday its due, though. You may not know it, but today is National Comfort Food Day.

I love comfort food, especially this time of the year when the nights are long and the temperatures are cold here in Central Indiana. So, when I learned of this holiday, I needed to learn more.

According to a number of sources, the term comfort food was first coined in the 1960s and gave a meaning to the kinds of foods that make us feel safe, secure, and happy. Entertainment legend Liza Minnelli is the person largely credited bringing the term to the masses when he was asked during an interview what things gave her comfort and she talked about food.

How cool is that?

So, in honor of National Comfort Food Day, and with a loving tip of the hat to Ms. Minnelli, let’s talk comfort food!

For me, comfort foods may vary depending on the circumstances and time of the year. The first things that come to mind are mashed potatoes and soup. While both of those are wonderful, I’m not sure I want a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup on a steamy August afternoon. During those warmer months, I’ll be looking for ice cream, a nice tall glass of cold water, or a burger right off the grill.

As I write this, just the mention of those things make me smile. They also conjure memories of good times. Or, at the very least, of making me feel better on those days I was down or not feeling well.

For what it’s worth, I will also share a few things that definitely do not qualify as comfort food for me. It’s not a long list—seafood, salads, and vegetables. Thanks to the fact that I have the palate of a college student, I’m going to pass on items that are good for me.

At this point, you may be wondering how I’m celebrating National Comfort Food Day. Well, I’ll tell you. I mean, I’m the one who brought this up, right? For breakfast, I had a bowl of cinnamon oatmeal with blueberries. The warmth, the aroma, the delightful texture. It’s like a welcome hug in a bowl. Lunch will be something simple that takes me back to my youth, like a toasted ham & cheese sandwich with a side of applesauce. Dinner will probably be a bowl of chili, with shredded cheese and onions, and come fresh cornbread. To me, those are some fine choices for comfort food meals.

How about you? Did you know National Comfort Food Day was a real thing? If  you didn’t, now that you know about it, how would you celebrate? Tell me about some of your favorite comfort foods. Let’s share the comfort food goodness this holiday season! 

J.C. Kenney is the bestselling author of mysteries full of oddball characters in unusual settings. He's also the co-host of The Bookish Hour and The Bookish Moment webcasts. When he’s not writing, you can find him following IndyCar racing or listening to music. He has two grown children and lives in Indianapolis with his wife and a cat.

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