Whether it’s soul food from your favorite restaurant or your mom’s homemade chili, everyone has a dish they go to when they’re feeling a little blue or nostalgic. This concept of comfort food is a prolific one. If you're wondering why certain meals make us feel better, the guide below explains.

What Qualifies As Comfort Food?

The term ‘comfort food’ refers to feel-good treats that people seek out when they want reassurance. It often takes the form of desserts, such as cookies, rich foods, like fried chicken or BBQ, or a steaming bowl of your favorite soup. While what’s considered comfort food can vary from person to person, it’s usually an indulgence—not something that you allow yourself to eat regularly. However, the only real qualification is that it brings you joy.

Why Do People Enjoy It So Much?

Comfort food provides a perceived psychological benefit. After a bad day at work or a breakup, it may shift your mood to a more positive one. Some people even eat comfort food to celebrate success, such as a promotion or finishing an exhausting project.

Since our memory is so closely linked to smell, partaking in these familiar dishes provides a callback to happy memories—such as childhood dinners, outings with friends, or holidays. This often also reminds us of our connections to important people from our past. Additionally, certain ingredients—such as sugar—can directly send pleasure signals to our brain.

If you are looking to partake in some delicious comfort food, Buzzard Billy’s restaurant in Lincoln, NE, is the place to go. They’ve got all the American classics, including BBQ, cheeseburgers, and chili cheese fries. If you’re in the mood for Cajun food, they’ve got a plethora of New Orleans-inspired dishes like jambalaya, gumbo, etouffee, and alligator meat. View their restaurant menu online. Call (402) 475-8822 to place an order for pickup.