Comfort food evades precise definitions and descriptions. Described by one restaurant critic as “satisfying stick-to-your-ribs fare” that echoes “simpler times,” and is “informal and ample;” others define it as food with lots of sugar, or more than fifty grams of fat.

Some focus on comfort food’s emotional and curative qualities, claiming that it evokes memories, eases emotional discomfort, alleviates boredom, or soothes upset stomachs.

Definitely not for the calorie-conscious, comfortfood menus might include meatloaf, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, biscuits and gravy rice pudding, milkshakes, tuna casserole, grilled cheese, or peanut butter and banana sandwiches on squishy white bread (or congee or miso soup for other ethnic food traditions).