Can Comfort Foods Be Healthy?

https://dpcpsi.nih.gov/onr/blog/march-2025-onr-directors-blog Comfort foods—like ice cream, cookies, and pizza—help you feel good because they tap into your emotions and memories and even your brain. But can they be good for your body, too? Dr. Drew Bremer, director of the Office of Nutrition Research at the National Institutes of Health, says that the answer to this question is yes—if you choose healthy versions or smaller portions. In a blog post for National Nutrition Month®, Dr. Bremer explains that leaning into healthy comfort eating can have benefits for both physical and mental health and be part of a positive strategy for wellness. And although there’s much more to be learned, research is beginning to suggest that diet may even help to improve symptoms of some mental health conditions.