comfort eating

American  

[kuhm-fert ee-ting] / ˈkʌm fərt ˌi tɪŋ /

noun

1. emotional eating, especially as a response to sad, depressing, or upsetting feelings or experiences.

   Cake and bread are my go-to for comfort eating when I am down.

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Etymology

Origin of comfort eating

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

comfort eating

We see a potent metaphor for the fourth sign of the zodiac in the Mono Silver Zeug cutlery set — a shiny smattering of tools for that sacred source of comfort: eating.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 21, 2024

I told myself it was enough exercise to justify all the comfort eating, as well as an opportunity to support local businesses and cure my cabin fever.

From Slate ● Jul. 12, 2023

The soundtrack indicates that this is not a case of stress or comfort eating, but an act of joy.

From Salon ● Jul. 3, 2023

They said this may help explain why comfort eating is common, and why stress in particular increases human desire to eat highly palatable high-sugar foods, even when not hungry.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 3, 2023

Downstairs, Diana and her witnesses were lolling about in comfort, eating and drinking the results of a MacDonald's run that Roz and Helen had made.

From Wild Justice by Sprague, Ruth M.