I recently read a summary of a report by the Center for Culinary Development (CCD) that discussed trends in generational comfort foods. The idea that different generations might crave different comfort foods fascinated me, so I decided to create my own informal poll examining both generational and regional influence on comfort foods.
My survey was simple. I asked people to identify: their generation, their favorite comfort food, and where they were raised. In all, I received nearly 100 responses from around the country.
So, here are the results of my little poll. When it comes to comfort foods; starches and fats topped the list. In general we crave pasta, potatoes, and cheese, most of all. Sweets, including ice cream, cookies, and chocolate, are a close second.
In terms of generational influence, Baby Boomers seemed to long for foods that remind them of their childhoods; home-cooked comfort. High among the results were casseroles, stews, and roasted meals.
Gen Xers hungered for grilled cheese sandwiches, potatoes in all forms - from mashed to chips - and pastas. They were also more likely to mention Mexican foods like burritos, tacos and nachos than other generations.
Gen Yers craved convenience foods like pizza, cookies, and chips, but continued the international food trend with Asian dishes like sushi and miso soup.
I didn’t find huge generational trends from region to region. However, there were regional generalities. I found that Easterners liked belly-warming dishes like pastas, stews, and soups. Midwesterners were fond of sweets and potatoes, particularly mashed potatoes and gravy. West Coasters had a desire for Mexican and Asian food. Southerners often mentioned baked goods like cookies or biscuits.
So what was the most mentioned comfort food of all? Macaroni and Cheese, of course.
What are some of your favorite comfort foods?
I'm a Mid Atlantic/Southerner Gen Xer and my favorite comfort food in the whole world is Brunswick stew. Next to that is mustard greens. Clam chowder, also. Love stews and hearty soups, and home cooked veggies, especially various greens.
my comfort food is fried potatoes,pinto beans and cornbread. Love Them. reminds me of when i still lived at home. My parents had 13 kids. That was all that they could afford to feed us.
Truly a New Englander here! Homemade soups and stews, meatloaf, potatoes, seafood,and grilled cheese and onion with tomato soup, and chow mein sandwiches when I visit my home town since they have the best chow mein sandwiches ever!
I like spicey and I also enjoy mac and cheese
Mexican food! Anything spicey and cheesey!
Pasta,pasta and more pasta . Nothing says comfort to me more than a big bowl of pasta.
French onion soup!! Its my specialty :)
That is an interesting poll. I am a southern girl and I definitely agree with baked goods being a comfort food as well as soul food and anything fried.
I am a Baby boomer from the Southeast and my comfort food is potatoes - white or sweet , mashed or bake. Not a french fry person
potatoes....anyway, anytime!! cheese is always a plus too!
I tried to pin down a specific comfort food but it is honestly anything that has cheese on it....pizza, Mexican, Italian, etc. So I guess cheese is my comfort food!
mine is grilled cheese with tomato soup. or grandmas potato dumplings.
My favorite comfort foods are meatloaf, pasta and chips....what does that say about me?? lol
I guess I am more in tune with GenXers because I love all things that are starchy.
Baklava,fruit punch,kiwi,cream cheese,and calamari!!!