Throughout this year, several bloggers will engage in a conversation here and on their blogs — asking questions of each other and responding. Others are absolutely welcome to join the conversation, as well. Learn more about the ladies of Blogversation 2012.
The last few days, I’ve been feeling a little oogy, as a college roommate of mine like to say — not laid out miserable sick, just not 100 percent.
That’s meant I haven’t eaten much, and what I have eaten has mostly been one of my go-to comfort foods: macaroni and cheese.
A year ago, I was far more than oogy. I was probably as sick as I’ve ever been. I didn’t eat for nearly two weeks, and dropped about 10 pounds.
When I was trying to find something, anything, I could eat last year, I found several resources suggesting the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce, toast.  All were recommended as gentle on the tummy, not too hard to digest.
But while I ate quite a bit of toast and applesauce while I came back to life, I also listened to my body. My body wanted comfort food, so although I worried throwing a grilled cheese into an angry stomach would be too much fat and grease, it totally worked.
I think part of the reason is how much I love a good grilled cheese. Comfort food does more than feed the stomach, it nourishes the soul, and I think when I felt terrible, I needed both badly.
When I was sick as a kid, my stepmother would get me a Slurpee, half Coke and half cherry, to soothe my sore throat. Now any time I have a Slurpee, I have that warm feeling of being loved and cared for, no matter how many sugary calories I’m pumping down my throat.
My guess is that our comfort foods are partly influenced by our tastes — I adore mashed potatoes and always have — but probably are more a factor of memories and experience. If you grew up in Michigan, you probably drank flat Vernor’s ginger ale when you were sick, and that means something different than any old ginger ale.
But on that theory, my macaroni and cheese romance would have to focus on the bright orange Kraft my mom made, and not the gooey, creamy elbows I’ve been downing this week.
What’s your feel-better food and why?