What makes food memories so powerful (and how to use it to battle mental illness)

Image: Wix

I was six and we just moved to another city. Lost in my own world, terrified of everything, I looked for comfort, for my good place…

At the same time, my mom started a new job for a nature conservancy-oriented organisation for talented kids. Yup, sounds complicated but that was my safe place. Anyway, once a year, just before Christmas, they used to organise a charity fair. I was selling my handmade toys there and it felt so good. To give me more stuff to sell, my mom made pastries. And not just any pastries, but little perfect kinda croissants, with bun-like dough, cherry filling and powdered sugar on top 🥐🍒

Mom has made cherry “croissants” for the fair for the next 10 years. Still, I will always remember the very first ones. I think that is my taste of home, I’ve been seeking everywhere ever since…🥺

Some foods may bring back the very special memories hidden deep inside of our mind. What's more, those memories are basic and very strong. They live within that parts of our subconscious which makes us us. For me, trying that “croissants” isn't just eating, it is the whole life I want back. Emotions, it evokes, are strong enough to make me feel better, even at my worst.

So what are they - your “happy food memories”? Try and bring back a comfort food into your life ❤️ You can make it a bit healthier or just enjoy it the way it had always been. Because if you could manage just one more step away from the dark place, does it really matter that you had a croissant for lunch? 😌