Why comfort food makes us feel good

Who doesn't love comfort food?

The next time you're sitting over a meal that makes you feel at home, you might want to give the person who served you the dish a call.

Researchers say they may have discovered why comfort food makes you feel better when you're down.

The new research shows there is a reason we love comfort foods like macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes and all the other amazing, and fattening, stuff! It's not just the taste…

A University of Buffalo professor studied the social and emotional ties to food consumption. She found people not only sought out comfort foods when feeling down, but actually enjoyed the taste more when feeling sad.

"We are looking for a way to connect to our childhood and to when it was easy and when it was easier to be comforted than it is now," said food writer Ed Levine.

The research also shows those good feelings extend to the people who served us the food, so thanks mom for the mac-n-cheese!