Boost Your Mood With These Top Comfort Foods (2024)

Elaine Lemm

Elaine Lemm is a renowned British food writer, classically trained chef, teacher, and author with over 25 years of experience writing about British food and cooking.

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Updated on 01/20/23

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In the depths of winter or just on a grey, rainyday - and there are plenty of those inBritain - or only when you feel you want a boost, there are many ways to lift your mood, not least eating comfort foods. Studies have shown that eating foods which are comforting, wholesome and nourishing can significantly alter the way you feel.

The memories usually associated with these typesof food often come from childhood, so no surprise that a Sunday roast or sticky puddings (also referred to as nursery puddings) will feature on most Britain'scomfort food list.

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The Sunday Roast
Undoubtedly, the traditional Sunday Roast comes high on any comfort food list. In Britain, sitting down to Sunday lunch is a century's old custom and so has many, many associations with childhood. The cooking of the lunch may havewaned in recent times but not the eating of it; pubs throughout the land are full to bursting with families enjoying a good roast and Yorkshire Puddings.
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Fish and Chips
An absolute classic of favorite British foods is a plate of British Fish and Chips (with or without the mushy peas). Whether by the seaside or (a great tradition) eating them outdoors straight from the paper, fish and chips are a national institution and no wonder they are an all-time comfort food.
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Curry - No Matter Which
The popularity of curry is not a newcomer in Britain; it has been eaten here for centuries from when it was brought over during the British involvement in the Indiansubcontinent. Curry now can be from anywhere on the globe, and all are welcome comfort foods despite their non-indigenous origins.
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A Full English Breakfast
For the sake of your heart, it may not be a good idea to eat this breakfast every day, but a full English now and again is a real treat so certainly deserves to be on this list.
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Comforting Food on the Go
In need of quick comfort, then reach for a pie or a pasty. The perfect to hold in your hand for a quick snack or can even be served for dinner is the Cornish pasty. Once the food of choice of Cornish tin miners, this old favorite is eaten and enjoyed all over the UK.
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John Dory with Herb Dumplings, Clams and Vermouth Sauce Recipe
06 of 09
Hot or Cold You Can't Beat a Pork Pie
Be they hot or cold, one of the top pies for a quick, comforting snack has to be the pork pie. They have been a British favorite for centuries and are one of the first types ever made and always will be as they are so delicious.
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Marmalade Sponge Pudding - The Perfect Nursery Food
Steamed or baked and usually served with custard are the nursery puddings of childhood. There isn't a child who does not have memories of these warm, wholesome puds bathed in a silky, custard sauce. Thestuff of dreams with a marmalade pudding right at the top of the list.
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Make it a Crumble
For the ultimate in comforting foods, it is hard to beat a fruit crumble. Soft, tasty fruit compote topped with a buttery crisp crumble hits all the right spots. Finish it off with ice cream, and you will feel even better.
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Turn Leftover Bread Into the Best Pudding
What morecan be asked of leftovers than to make them into one of the best puddings, ever?Stale bread with the addition of milk, cream, vanilla and dried fruits turns quickly and easily into a luscious, comforting dessert with its built-incustard. Perfection.

38 Comfort Food Recipes From Around the World

Article Sources

The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Wahl DR, Villinger K, König LM, Ziesemer K, Schupp HT, Renner B. Healthy food choices are happy food choices: Evidence from a real life sample using smartphone based assessments. Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):17069. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-17262-9

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