What is the inexplicable pull of mac-n-cheese? Even at its worst, (out of the insidious blue and yellow box, mixed with milk and butter) it isn't all that bad. Is it the pasta or is it the cheese? And what is it that makes macaroni and cheese one of the all-time favorite comfort foods.

The answers are many and varied, just like the number of different foods which people consider to be "comfort foods". A Cornell University study on comfort foods found that only 40% of people surveyed indicated that their favorite comfort food was somewhat healthy. Potato chips came out on top in this study.

Multiple factors influence choice of comfort foods, not the least of which is gender. Women chose ice cream, chocolate and cookies as their comfort favorites, while men went with ice cream, soup and pizza or pasta (tied for third). The gender choices gave some insight into the mind-set of men and women. The men chose meal-type items because it made them feel "spoiled" or "take care of". The same foods for women reminded them of all the work which goes into preparing them.

The other most obvious influencer of comfort food choice is mood. The better your mood, the better your food choices and the reasons are fascinating. When you are in a good mood you apparently are more capable of grasping abstract concepts like how nutritious your food is and therefore may go with veggies or a salad as opposed to half of a pizza!

When you are in a bad or down mood, you focus on the here and now and tend to zero in on the sensory qualities of the food, not the promise of a healthier lifestyle. It is at this point that a complete bag of Cheetos wins out over the beautiful relish tray in the fridge!

Mood also influences what kind and how much of a particular comfort food you may nosh before you satiate that needy, comfort-seeking monster within! The more down you are the more of your chosen elixir you are likely to consume.

But back to the mac and cheese mystery; why it is so beloved, craved and devoured in mass quantities will remain one of the great unknowns. It is just so good! Especially, when it is homemade with 4 different cheeses, a little bacon or ham thrown in for good measure and crispy on top and around the edges!

If you can't get enough of this golden carb conveyor of contentment, you must check out these mouthwatering ideas for other ways to use it.

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