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

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

There he remained for some moments, as Mike says, taking as much comfort eating his dinner, as if he were dining on one of his father's sheep.

From Mike Marble His Crotchets and Oddities. by Woodworth, Francis C. (Francis Channing)