In their May issue, Money magazine lists three ways to keep your cool in this market. The third on really got my attention:
Eat a doughnut. Or the comfort food of your choice. Behavioral economists have found that agitation makes for poor money decisions. So do whatever soothes your soul. Walk the dog. Go to church, Hang with family and friends. The calmer you feel, the less likely you'll do something irrational.
From what I've seen, the sales of comfort foods are doing quite well. For instance:
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I know one ice cream flavor is having a banner year
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Even Krispy Kreme has had positive results lately
So in the interest of keeping us all calm in a bad economy, let's talk comfort foods. Here's some of the treats I like that make me much more "comfortable":
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Chocolate chip cookies (hot out of the oven.) Even better when they're combined with...
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...ice cream! The cold of the ice cream and the heat of the cookies is PERFECTION! (and is there any question what my favorite ice cream is?) ;-)
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Vinegar and salt chips
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KFC (I know, terrible for me -- I have it maybe once or twice a year.)
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BBQ
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Chinese buffet -- not only great food, but all I can eat of it!
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Pancakes. My wife grinds her own wheat, so ours are a bit healthier but still as tasty.
How about you? What comfort food(s) do you turn to in times of economic (or other) distress?
Ice-cream and pancakes!
Posted by: Personal Finance | April 21, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Anything Chocolate, Pasta Dishes, Guacamole, Chips & salsa....
Posted by: JEM | April 21, 2009 at 12:04 PM
Mmm, vinegar and salt chips.
Posted by: Sarah | April 21, 2009 at 12:09 PM
...Come to think of it, FMF, you must have access to Better Made chips. I love the ones in the bright-red bag.
Posted by: Sarah | April 21, 2009 at 12:09 PM
My comfort food is actually a glass of good red wine. I never really got a comfort food. I'm going to have to try that whole warm chocolate chip cookie/ice cream thing though!
Tweeted ya :)
Posted by: Momma @ Momma's Blog | April 21, 2009 at 12:10 PM
I love some popeye's chicken - and it's on sale tomorrow too!
http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/912509
Posted by: mjmcinto | April 21, 2009 at 12:11 PM
Sarah --
It's a miracle!!! We agree on something!!!! ;-)
Posted by: FMF | April 21, 2009 at 01:40 PM
Hmmm, my wife's eggplant parmigiana. She just made a batch for Easter. Chinese food, especially egg rolls and shrimp toast. Hot dogs. I could go on and on...
Posted by: Corporate Barbarian | April 21, 2009 at 02:02 PM
battered, fried, and salted.....anything
Posted by: Strick | April 21, 2009 at 02:34 PM
IHOP Chocolate Chip Pancakes with LOTS of syrup
Brownie Sundaes with LOTS of syrup
Cafe Mochas with LOTS of syrup
Hmmm....I think there's a trend here.
Posted by: rdub98 | April 21, 2009 at 03:51 PM
A big bowl of mac and cheese always does the trick.
Posted by: Kristy Wilson | April 21, 2009 at 06:09 PM
I'm weird - and lived overseas for awhile...
American:
1. Barbecued burgers.
2. My wife's homemade buffalo wings.
3. Spring cheesecake, made with oranges and limes from our back yard.
4. Ice cream. We like to buy several pints and mix the flavors together randomly to see what taste combos work best.
5. Anything Mexican or Italian (I guess it ain't American, but Mexican and Italian restaurants far outnumber "American" restaurants in my city...)
Chinese:
1. "Egg jiaozi" - a Chinese New Year's specialty from my wife's hometown in China.
2. Yangrou Paomo - a Muslim lamb stew from west-central China that I fell in love with when I went to Xi'an.
3. Nian Gao, however prepared.
4. My wife's beef and tofu stew. It's amazingly "beefy" - she slow-cooks it for about a day and the tofu soaks up the beef flavor.
5. KFC (yes, in China - the chicken kicks butt over the KFCs I've been to in the US).
Posted by: Foobarista | April 21, 2009 at 09:29 PM
shamless plugs...
At least when linking to your favorite flavor, pick one. Don't pick the company.
Posted by: Ryan | April 22, 2009 at 03:26 PM