Chicken Soup Feeds Our Hunger for Connection

Just thinking about comfort foods can reduce loneliness

There was never a fall or winter holiday when my mother didn’t make chicken soup. There was never a cold or flu I had when she also didn’t whip up a batch. And there’s never been a time when I’ve made the hearty dish — or even thought about it — as an adult when I haven’t seen her face or felt blanketed in the warmth and safety of my youth.

Apparently, I’m not alone. Research published in the journal Psychological Science suggests there is a strong link between comfort foods and the comfort we get from loved ones.

Researchers at the University of Buffalo asked participants to write about a conflict they had with someone they were close to as a way to induce a sense of social vulnerability or a threat to belonging. Then they directed some in the group to write about one of their comfort foods, while others were instructed to write about trying a new food. Afterwards, both groups were asked questions about how lonely they felt.

The results we compelling: writing about a fight with someone dear to them made people feel lonely. But those who were generally able to form close, secure relationships — something that was assessed before the experiment — were able to pull themselves out of the loneliness…