Snack Attack

 Lori Burdeshaw

The seasons are changing and the holidays are approaching. And even though we enjoy this time of year, it does tend to add a bit of extra stress to our already busy days. Sometimes, it's a relief just to catch a few minutes of "me" time. It's times like these when many of us reach out for comfort foods.
What are comfort foods? Everyone has a different definition. Some people would answer "junk food", fast food, snacks and sweets. Some people would say the list includes homemade favorites like mashed potatoes, macaroni & cheese, or casseroles. It's typically foods that are inexpensive, uncomplicated, and easy to prepare. Sometimes the foods are associated with happy times from our past…even from our childhood. Certain dishes can evoke memories of being safe or "taken care of", and happy. When we are excited or carefree, we are more likely to try new things. But if we are anxious or upset, we are likely to turn to our old favorites, almost like a type of security blanket.

What is MY answer to comfort food? That's an easy one…CHOCOLATE! Chocolate when I'm happy, chocolate when I'm sad, chocolate is all-occasion for me. And I'm not alone. A recent survey says that many women consider ice cream, chocolate and cookies as their top three comfort foods. The same survey shows soups, pizza, and pasta at the top of men's lists.

Design note: When I caught my son into the fudge (again!), I made him pose in front of it "mug shot" style. The sign he's holding up in the last photo has his name and "Accused of stealing fudge". I wanted the focus of this layout to be the story, so I decided to place my photos up against the edge of the page to allow plenty of room for my story.

Editor's note: I really like the close-up pictures that Marcy uses here. It makes it look like you can just reach in, grab one, and take a bite…mmmmm!