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12 Delicious Snack Foods That Americans Are Totally Missing Out On

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If you love a wide variety of junk food, there's no better place to be than in America.

But even Americans are missing out on some of the world's tastiest snacks.

A recent Reddit thread asked what products Americans are missing out on.

The community revealed some awesome snacks from abroad that aren't widely available in the U.S. After reading through it, we now desperately want to try these, and have them here.

1. Golden Gaytime, Australia.

This popular ice cream bar is made of toffee and vanilla ice cream dipped in chocolate and wrapped in honeycomb biscuits. Redditor user1811 calls it"one of the best ice creams you can get in Australia."

golden gaytime

2. Green Tea Kit-Kats, Japan.

"The only redeeming thing is that they can be ordered on Amazon," says user HidesInTowers. "Japan is really onto something with those."

green tea kit kats

3. Crispy M&M's, Europe.

These delicious treats were discontinued in the U.S. "I get my dad to bring me back a few bags whenever he goes to Europe for work," says TraumaBunny.

m&ms

4. Doner Kababs, Turkey.

User omar_strollin points out that this kebab is not a meat-and-veggie skewer. It's a sandwich served on flatbread with roasted meat (usually lamb), cucumber, tomato, lettuce, and chili.

Döner kebab sandwich

5. Tim Tams, Australia.

Tim Tams are chocolate malt cookies layered with chocolate cream and coated in a layer of chocolate. They're often served with coffee or tea.

tim tams

6. Spezi orange soda, Germany.

"It tastes a lot more like actual oranges then the thick sugary orange soda in the U.S.,"writes ProfBatman. "More artificial tasting than Orangina, but less artificial than Sunkist."

spezi soda germany

7. Black Currant Fanta, United Kingdom.

" If you're American and haven't tried it imagine drinking a Blue Tootsie Pop (without the center)," says TheRedTornado.

black currant fanta

8. Kapsalon, The Netherlands.

This Dutch food item includes fries, topped with gyro meat, then grilled with a layer of gouda cheese. The concoction is then covered in salad greens. Its name means "hair salon" because the inventor of the dish owned one, according to dwerg85.

kapsalon dish

9. Callalo soup, the Caribbean.
The soup is made from Dasheen leaves, garlic, onion, peppers, okra, and sometimes coconut milk.

"You can't get dasheen leaves in the U.S.,"writes ConstantlySlippery. "I've tried it with spinach but its not the same."

callaloo soup10. Paprika-flavored chips, Europe.

"Barbecue is not the same!"writes killahbabekiss.

potato chips

11. Erdnuss Schokolade, Germany.

These sugar-coated chocolate candies are "like 1000x better than M&M's,"writes berline-calling.

schokolierte erdnusse

12. The McAloo Tiki burger, India.

This meat-free burger is made from potato, chickpeas, and bread.

mcaloo tiki burger

SEE ALSO: The Dumbest Customer Complaints Of All Time

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Why You Can't Trust The Calorie Counts That You Find On Food

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nutrition label

Nearly all packaged foods we eat have a nutritional label. The amount of calories on that label is a guiding factor in helping consumers make good or bad food choices. The problem is, calorie counts are not entirely accurate.

Scientists are learning that not all calories are created equal. The traditional method that we use to measure calories needs to be updated, according a session called “Re-examining the Energy Value of Food" presented at the annual meeting of the Institute for Food Technologists on Sunday, July 14.

The current system "provides only an estimate of the energy content of foods," but "determining the real caloric value of a food item requires actual feeding experiments,"one speaker said.

What is a calorie?

At its most basic, a calorie is a measure of energy. One Calorie (equal to one kilocalorie, or 1,000 calories) is the amount of energy that is required to heat one kilogram of water 1 degree Celsius at sea level.

The energy content of food was traditionally measured using a bomb calorimetry. A sample of food, for example a small piece of a hot dog, is placed into a metal vessel called a bomb. The bomb is filled with oxygen and placed inside a container where it is surrounded by water.

Then, the sample is ignited by a current of electricity. The water chamber absorbs the heat that is released as the food sample burns. A thermometer measures the rise in temperature of the water.

Since a Calorie raises the temperature of 1 kilogram (1 liter) of water by 1 degree, the calorie count is found by calculating the change in temperature of the water multiplied by the volume of water.

How are calories measured today?

Bomb CalirometerIn the 1800s chemist Wilbur O. Atwater determined the average number of calories in the three main sources of energy in food: fat, carbohydrates, and protein.

He found that fats were worth around 9 calories per gram and carbs and proteins were worth 4 calories per gram.

The "4-9-4 Method" or the Atwater system is how calorie values on food labels are determined today. For instance, a bag of crackers that has 5 grams of fat, 22 grams of carbohydrate, and 2 grams of protein should contain around 140 Calories.

Not all calories are created equal

The problem with the Atwater system is that not all the energy in foods is completely digested or absorbed. The Atwater system corrects for losses in energy in the form of urine or feces (the energy that isn't excreted is known as metabolizable energy), but it does not account for how absorption varies based on the type of food or the individual who is consuming it.

A single factor is used for each energy-containing component — protein, fat, and carbohydrate — regardless of the food.

What does this mean for us? Even if two foods contain the same number of calories on the label, the number of calories that is actually absorbed by the body can vary with each person and the type of food. 

One example: nuts. In a study published in the Journal of Nutrition in 2008, U.S. Department of Agriculture researcher David Baer concluded that "nuts are a food group for which substantial evidence suggests that the Atwater factors may be poorly predictive."

Bear found that whole almonds have about 20% less calories than the value calculated using Atwater factors. In a separate study, he found that pistachios had 5% less calories than originally thought.

This has to do with how nuts — especially whole nuts — are absorbed by the body. With whole nuts, compared to peanut butter or peanut oil, more fat ends up in the poop. People who eat more nuts also lose more fat in the stool. 

The way people chew their food also makes a difference. The more people chew their food, the more calories are absorbed. 

In nuts, a lot of the fat is stored inside the cells walls. So if the cells are not broken during chewing they may pass right through the gastrointestinal tract without releasing the oil they contain, Baer found.   

SEE ALSO: QUIZ: Which Food Has More Calories?

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Pringles Is Out With Mint Chocolate Chip-Flavored Potato Chips

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Pringles has started rolling out new, holiday-themed chip flavors in the U.S. and U.K., including pecan pie, mint chocolate chip, and cinnamon and sugar.

The limited-time pecan pie flavor has only hit a few stores in the U.S. so far. 

Reviews of the new flavor on social media have so far been largely positive. One woman pleaded with Pringles on Facebook to consider creating a "pecan pie Pringles rehab" to treat her infatuation with the new flavor.  

The mint chocolate chip and cinnamon and sugar flavors will only be available in the U.K. at limited stores including Tesco, Morrisons, and Sainsbury's, according to BakeryandSnacks.com.

Cinnamon and sugar was among the three holiday flavors rolled out in the U.S. last year, which also included white chocolate peppermint and pumpkin pie spice. The specialty flavors have some consumers raising eyebrows: 

Pringles is expected to debut more holiday flavors in the U.S. Responding to the rehab-seeking fan on Facebook, Pringles said that its holiday flavors "are only beginning to be rolled out." 

Kellogg's has not responded to an inquiry from Business Insider for this story. 

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12 Crazy Potato Chip Flavors We Wish Lay's Would Make A Reality

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Lay's is currently accepting submissions for new potato chip flavors. 

The company's "Do Us A Flavor" contest will result in a new flavor based on popularity. Last year, the Chicken and Waffles flavor won.  

The company will announce winners in April. Submit your ideas here

We sorted through hundreds of submissions and chose a few flavors we'd love to try. 

1. Chili Cheese. 

We're surprised no one has come out with this flavor yet. Mass appeal, but really unique. 

 

lays do us a flavor

2. Sweet and Sour Chicken. 

This Asian sauce tastes great on fried chicken, so we imagine it would taste good on potato chips. 

lays do us a flavor

3. Spicy Taco. 

Would Doritos-style flavoring translate to potato chips? We'd be curious to try. 

lays do us a flavor

4. Pulled Pork Sandwich. 

This is like a combination of a barbecue chip and a pork rind. We love it. 

lays do us a flavor

5. Velveeta with Rotel. 

Given the impending Velveeta cheese shortage, we'd get our fix with these chips. 

lays do us a flavorlays do us a flavor

6. Asiago Dill. 

This flavor is exotic without being too exotic (even Wendy's has Asiago cheese now). It feels high-brow for Lay's.  

lays do us a flavor

7. Roasted Garlic Hummus. 

Hummus is transforming from health food to tailgate food. The garlic would give these chips a nice kick. 

lays do us a flavor

8. Artichoke Dip. 

This is another classic that we're surprised no one has turned into a chip. The Parmesan and garlic flavors would taste great on a potato chip. 

lays do us a flavor

9. Tzatziki. 

This refreshing, creamy Greek dip has exotic flair but wide appeal. 

lays do us a flavor

10. Smoked Brisket.

Smoky barbecue chips sound awesome to us. 

lays do us a flavor

11. Beer Cheese Soup. 

This pub classic would make for interesting chips with mass appeal. 

lays do us a flavor

12. Wasabi Soy. 

These Asian chips would have a tangy kick. 

lays do us a flavor

SEE ALSO: We Tested Oreo's New Cookie Dough Flavor—Here's The Verdict

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We Were Blown Away By The 'Miracle' Berry That Makes You Want To Eat A Whole Lime

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"Oh my god!" — That was the reaction we got from transportation reporter Alex Davies when he bit into a lime 15 minutes after taking a Miracle Berry tablet

The tablet, also known as mBerry, consists of powder from a West African fruit called Synsepalum dulcificum, or miracle fruit. When consumed, the berry alters your taste buds in a way that sour foods become extremely sweet.

It's a truly mind-boggling experience. Watch and see for yourself how it all works.

Produced by Will Wei. Additional camera by Justin Gmoser.

Music: "Guilty Pleasures" by Igor Dvorkin, Duncan Pittock, & Ellie Kidd

NOW WATCH: Sitting At Work Is Deadly, So We Tried A Treadmill Desk

Follow BI Video: On Facebook

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Here's What You Should Really Be Eating For A Snack

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urban snacking

There's a perception that snacking is bad for us. A nibble here and a nosh there can quickly add up in calories and make us gain weight.

"We need to change our mindset," says Kim Larson, RDN, CD, CSSD, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "Snacking has been traditionally viewed as eating junk food or sweets."

The problem is that cookies and chips are not "snacks"— they're treats. Eat too much of them, and you're going to put on pounds.

"Snacks should contain a protein source and at least one other food group such as a complex carbohydrate or fruit," says Marjorie Nolan Cohn, MS, RD, CDN, ACSM-HFS, author of "Belly Fat Fix." A yogurt and an apple, or a cheese stick and whole wheat crackers are good examples, she says.

In terms of calories, a healthy snack ranges from 200 to 300 calories for a man and 150 to 200 calories for a woman, says Cohn.

When we stick to high-quality foods, snacking helps to stabilize our blood sugar so we don't crash during the day and should prevent overeating at lunch or dinner.

"In general, if meals are longer than four hours apart you should plan on having a snack between them," says Cohn.

Feeling hungry but don't know what to munch on? Some healthy snack options are below.

Low-fat plain Greek yogurt and high-fiber cereal.

Greek yogurtThis combination of protein and fiber slows down digestion, which "fills you up longer, and prevents sugar cravings," says Cohn.

Greek yogurt tends to be thicker and creamier than its non-Greek counterparts, while containing more protein and less sugar than fruit-flavored yogurt.

Fiber-rich cereals include Post Grape-Nuts, Post Shredded Wheat, or Kellogg's All-Bran, which all have at least 6 grams of fiber per serving. The daily recommended amount of fiber is 25 grams for women and 38 for men.

Granola tends to be fiber-heavy too, but may contain more sugar and fat than other types of cereals so check the nutrition label. 

Raw nuts and fruit.

Nuts are a great source of healthy unsaturated fats. Here, portion size is important since nuts are rich in calories. "A serving of nuts is one ounce and generally fills up an Altoids container," says Cohn. 

An apple with low-fat mozzarella cheese.

applesA medium-sized apple is it's very own 100-calorie pack — without all the refined sugar and other processed ingredients in most pre-packaged snacks.

"Eating whole fresh fruit satisfies the sweet tooth and cuts the cravings for sugary desserts," says Larson.

Low-fat cottage cheese with berries.

Sprinkle berries on half a cup of low-fat cottage cheese to add natural sweetness to this good source of protein. If the curds in cottage cheese freak you out, try the whipped variety, which has a smoother texture.

Carrots with hummus.

Hummus spread, made from ground-up chickpeas, is high in fiber and protein. A 3-ounce serving of baby carrots (around 10 pieces) is low in calories and a good way to help squeeze in the five servings of vegetables the average person should be hitting each day.

SEE ALSO: Here's What You Should Really Be Eating For Breakfast

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The Best Snack Food From Every State

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Arkansas fried dill pickles

New York is well on its way to making yogurt the official state snack

It turns out that several other states have already designated official snack foods: Jell-O was declared the official snack of Utah back in 2001, and Illinois  a top producer of corn  made popcorn its official snack in 2003.

We think every state should have an official snack food, and researched the best snack from every state in the U.S. Disagree with our taste? Let us know in the comments.

ALABAMA: Moon Pies — a treat made of 2 graham crackers with marshmallow filling, coated in chocolate — are so beloved in Alabama that a 12-foot version of the cookie drops from one of Mobile's tallest buildings on New Year's Eve.



ALASKA: The state’s great salmon run is seasonal, but healthy, smoky salmon jerky can be enjoyed year-round.



ARIZONA: Prickly Pear Cactus Candy is chewy, sweet, and made with prickly pears straight from Arizona's arid land.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 16 Best Snacks To Eat At Your Desk

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lunch desk eating workWhat you eat all day doesn't just impact your health and weight; it affects your productivity, too.

"If you eat high fat, high sugar meals and snacks you will be sleepy and have low energy overall," says Lisa De Fazio, a healthy lifestyle expert and registered dietitian. "High fat foods take more work to digest. Candy causes sugar to spike in your blood stream then crash, and you also may have an upset stomach. Who can be productive with all of this going on?"

But, unfortunately, she says, many people tend to make bad eating decisions during the workday.

"Boredom and stress often lead to mindless snacking on things like sweets and chips,"De Fazio explains. "Also, there may be limited healthy food choices or too many temptations around the office, like candy dishes on your colleagues' desks, cupcakes for birthdays, or greasy pizza during lunch meetings." 

Time — or lack thereof — also plays a part. "One of the reasons people don't stick to their healthy eating resolutions of bringing their own homemade prepared food, rather than ordering or eating out, is because of a lack of time," explains Nicole Maftoum, a Lebanese clinical dietitian. "In a fast-paced world, fast food comes as the optimum solution."

Maftoum says sleep deprivation also affects appetite and pushes one to eat twice the amount of calories that they'd typically consume in a day.

The experts say all of these factors make it easy for us to develop bad eating habits at work — but they're terrible excuses.

Luckily, there are plenty of quick, easy, and inexpensive healthy snack options.

Almonds

Almonds are a great source of protein and healthy fat that is satisfying. "They contain nine essential nutrients; have the highest rate of proteins when compared to other nuts; have the highest rate of fiber (3.5g per 23 pieces) when compared to other nuts; are rich in Vitamin E (23 pieces provide 35% of the daily value of Vitamin E); and contain monounsaturated fats that help increase HDL levels," Maftoum says.



Low-fat popcorn

This low-calorie snack will satisfy your craving for something salty and crunchy, and it’s also a good source of fiber, De Fazio says. 



Fresh fruit

Fruits are packed with vitamins and minerals, and are full of great natural sweetness, Maftoum says. "They are also a great source of antioxidants needed for a stronger immune system and a better performance at work."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's Why This Snack Cake Terrifies Kim Jong-Un

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choco pie korea

During the glory days of the Cold War, the Kremlin was scared shitless by Levi’s, McDonald’s, and other symbols of decadent Western culture. That is no longer the case.

This past October, visitors to Lenin's tomb in Moscow were turned away because the leader of the Bolshevik Revolution wasn’t receiving visitors. Why not? A Coca-Cola–sponsored stage set up to promote the Sochi Olympics was blocking the entrance to his tomb.

In North Korea, however, the regime still considers foreign-made consumer products potentially dangerous. But it’s not blue jeans and Big Macs Kim Jong-un is currently worried about. No, he's trying to keep out the sinister influence of the somewhat tasty South Korean Choco Pie.

Seoul-based Orion Confectionery began producing the Choco Pie in 1974 — a pretty blatant ripoff of the Tennessee-born Moon Pie. Thirty years later, during a period of wary cooperation between the North and South, South Korean businesses began running factories in Kaesong, a 25-square-mile special administrative zone just across the border in North Korea. Today, 125 South Korean companies employ 52,000 North Korean workers there. The North Korean regime is paid about $100 a month for each employee, each one of whom is then given roughly $67 of that.

But Pyongyang forbids South Korean factory managers at Kaesong from paying bonuses or cash incentives to North Korean workers. And so they began rewarding them with Choco Pies.

Curtis Melvin, a researcher at the US-Korea Institute at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, says that while Choco Pies are “not nearly as good” as the Moon Pie, they're essentially used as currency by North Koreans much like prison inmates might use cigarettes. North Koreans reportedly value Choco Pies at anywhere from 80 cents to $10 — a lot of money in the DPRK — and some Kaesong workers were getting up to 20 Choco Pies per shift.

The North Korean regime was not okay with this. And so state security forces initially attempted to wage a propaganda campaign against Choco Pies, saying “If the products from the ‘neighborhood downstairs’ are enjoyed unconditionally, the ideology of the people could wither at any moment.” And now, according to South Korean news reports, Pyongyang has outright banned the pies from Kaesong. Workers can be rewarded with sausages, instant noodles, coffee, and chocolate bars — but not Choco Pies.

North Korean meth, motorcycle gangs, Army snipers, and a guy named Rambo. Read more here.

One Western businessman who regularly travels to the DPRK and just returned from 10 days in-country — he requested anonymity to avoid any backlash from the North Korean regime — tells VICE News that he didn’t see a single Choco Pie in Kaesong. “Orion Choco Pie wrappers used to be common trash up on Jangsu Hill in Kaesong,” he says. “This time I didn't see them.”

Though it might seem counterintuitive in the “Hermit Kingdom,” there is, in fact, a fairly high level of awareness there of foreign brands. Christopher Graper, a guide with North Korea specialists Koryo Tours who also curates a huge collection of historical North Korean images and artifacts for his RetroDPRK project, says it’s “very easy to find foreign brands all the way back to the '60s and '70s, even in propaganda images.”

Graper explains that these would have all been “likely gifted from overseas Koreans, or donated in some sort of butter trade with other socialist countries." He also points out that Kim Jong-il’s black Mercedes was immortalized as a backdrop in Pyongyang’s annual Mass Games, held at the Rungnado May Day Stadium every autumn.

North Korea fires ballistic missiles off eastern coast. Read more here.

As serious as Kim clearly is about the capitalist influence of mediocre baked goods, those working to disarm the regime tell VICE News they can’t be bothered.

"I don’t comment on Choco Pies,” says Tony Namkung, a high-level negotiator who has accompanied Governor Bill Richardson, President Jimmy Carter, and Google’s Eric Schmidt to North Korea. “We’re trying to prevent a nuclear arms race in the region.”

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Lay's Is About To Start Selling A Cappuccino-Flavored Potato Chip

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lay's potato chips contest

NEW YORK (AP) — American palates have changed considerably over the years, but is the country ready for cappuccino-flavored Lay's?

Frito-Lay, the snack division of PepsiCo Inc., will announce on Wednesday the coffee-flavored chips as one of the four finalists for its second annual "Do Us a Flavor" contest in the U.S., which gives people a chance to create a new potato chip that is sold nationally and win $1 million. The other three finalists are Cheddar Bacon Mac & Cheese, Mango Salsa and Wasabi Ginger.

Frito-Lay says the four flavors are expected to start hitting shelves in late July. People will then be able to vote online for their favorite through Oct. 18.

The promotional stunt is intended to boost customer engagement online and send fans to stores in search of the flavors.

But it also reflects how Frito-Lay is trying to keep up with changing tastes, with its ever-evolving lineup of potato chips now including several Hispanic flavors. Later this month, it also plans to roll out Lay's Stax chips in a Korean barbecue flavor and Lay's Stax in Thai Sweet Chili flavor.

That would make them the first Asian flavors of Lay's chips sold nationally in the U.S., not counting the flavors it has introduced as part of the "Do Us a Flavor" contest. Last year, Cheesy Garlic Bread beat out Chicken & Waffles and Sriracha, a sauce commonly used in Thai cuisine.

"I can't imagine us 10 years ago doing a wasabi ginger flavor," said Ram Krishnan, Frito-Lay's senior vice president of brand marketing.

Despite the growing popularity of ethnic flavors, the top four Lay's flavors remain the same: Original, Barbecue, Cheddar & Sour Cream and Sour Cream & Onion.

Frito-Lay notes that its cappuccino flavor doesn't contain any actual coffee or caffeine. The company last year discontinued a variety of Cracker Jack that contained caffeine after the Food and Drug Administration said it was concerned about the proliferation of caffeinated food and drinks. Frito-Lay says it halted production because of weak demand, rather than regulatory concerns.

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Follow Candice Choi at www.twitter.com/candicechoi

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How To Make The Perfect Grilled Cheese

Unboxing: The new Cheez-It Crunch'd Cheese Puffs

Your favorite snacks contain some unexpected ingredients

Why comfort food comforts

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john mccallum brooke nowakowski harvard spray cake

When the Oxford English Dictionary added a definition for "comfort food" in 1997, it traced the term's etymology back to a 1977 Washington Post magazine article about Southern cooking: "Along with grits, one of the comfort foods of the South is black-eyed peas."

The Oxford English Dictionary, though, was wrong. ("I don't really believe I created the term," the author of the Post article wrote in 2013, but "since [1977]—if not before then—it has been one of my favorite food descriptors.")

The phrase "comfort food" has been around at least as early as 1966, when the Palm Beach Post used it in a story on obesity: "Adults, when under severe emotional stress, turn to what could be called 'comfort food'—food associated with the security of childhood, like mother's poached egg or famous chicken soup," it reads, beneath the headline "Sad Child May Overeat."

Regardless of when people found the words to describe it, though, the concept itself is ageless. Sad child may overeat. Or, put another way, certain foods promise solace as much as they do fuel.

But what's murkier is whether comfort food can actually deliver on that promise. Is that the feeling of a soul being soothed, or just the onset of a mac-and-cheese-induced food coma?

According to Shira Gabriel, an associate professor of psychology at the State University of New York, Buffalo, the best way to understand the question is to shift the focus away from the food itself.

Gabriel's research broadly defines "comfort food" as anything that a person uses to feel better, but in the U.S., the term calls some specific, universal things to mind: ice cream, mashed potatoes, French fries, and other simple, often indulgent meals or snacks. When a woman on a sitcom is feeling down, she busts out the ice cream. When someone in the 1970s South is having a bad day, they go for the grits.

But to equate "comfort food" with "caloric" is to misunderstand where the comfort actually comes from, Gabriel says.

"When we think about something like comfort food, we tend to think about it as providing calories or warmth or a sense of well-being," she tells me. "But what we don't think about is that comfort food also provides something social to us."

Grilled Cheese Sandwich Chowder Soup

In a study recently published in the journal Appetite, Gabriel and colleagues from SUNY-Buffalo and the University of the South ran a pair of experiments to shed light on what that something social might be.

In the first, volunteers chose a description that most closely matched their attachment style. (Loosely translated from psych-speak, "attachment style" means the ability to form strong, healthy emotional bonds, a trait that typically takes root at an early age, starting with one's parents. People with secure attachment styles can easily form these bonds and tend to view their relationships positively; people with insecure attachment styles, less so.)

Half of them were then asked to remember a fight they'd had with someone close to them. When the participants were given potato chips, those who had been asked to describe a conflict ranked the snack as tastier—but only, the researchers found, among the ones with a secure attachment style. Among those whose emotional relationships were shakier, there was no significant difference in enjoyment between the people who had revisited painful memories and those who hadn't.

The second experiment yielded similar results: After filling out a survey on their attachment style, volunteers kept a daily food-and-feelings diary for two weeks, recording how much they ate, whether they had consumed what they considered to be comfort food, and whether or not they felt lonely.

Measuring food intake against self-reported levels of isolation, the study authors found that people with strong emotional relationships were more likely than others to reach for comforting foods on the days that they felt lonely.

Both sets of results, Gabriel and her co-authors believe, point to the same idea: that comfort food's power may lie primarily in the associations it calls to mind. People who have positive family relationships are more likely to reach for reminders of those relationships in times of sadness—and often, those reminders come in the form of something edible.

A grilled cheese sandwich can be a greasy, gooey, satisfying endeavor in its own right, but even more so if it features in happy childhood memories.

In a similar 2011 study, the authors found the same thing with chicken soup, a food that's often associated with being taken care of: The stronger people's emotional relationships were, the more satisfying they tended to find their soup.

"I tend to think of it in terms of classical conditioning," Gabriel said. "If you're a small child and you get fed certain foods by your primary caregivers, then those foods begin to be associated with the feeling of being taken care of. And then when you get older, the food itself is enough to trigger that sense of belonging. But if, when you're a child, those connections are more anxiety-ridden … then when you're older and you eat those foods, you may feel less happy."

Child Eating Ice Cream Smiling

Past research has questioned the idea of comfort food in other ways.

In a study published last year in the journal Health Psychology, researchers used upsetting movie scenes to induce bad moods in their participants, and then served each one either their previously indicated comfort food, another food they had said they liked, a neutral snack like a granola bar, or nothing. The comfort foods, the study authors discovered, did help boost participants' moods—but so did the other foods, and so did receiving no food at all.

People are resilient with or without their snacks, the researchers concluded—meaning that "comfort food" may be nothing more than an excuse to indulge in an old favorite.

"People have this belief that high-calorie foods are the path out of difficult feelings," Kelly Brownell, an obesity researcher at Duke University, told the New York Times in an article on the Health Psychology study. "But the assignment of the word 'comfort' to these foods implies that there is a relationship between 'comfort' and 'food' that may not exist."

Which, in a way, is what the authors of the Appetite study are saying, too. Food, Gabriel said, could be swapped out for anything else that brings the same soothing sense of familiarity, like re-reading a beloved book or watching a favorite TV show.

"We tend to think about the need to belong as a fundamental human need. And by doing that, we're equating it to other fundamental human needs, like the need for food or water," Gabriel said. "When it's not fulfilled, you're driven to fulfill it, in the same way that when you're hungry, you're driven towards food. So when you feel lonely or you feel rejected, you're psychologically driven towards finding a way to belong."

Sometimes it's not food. Sometimes it is.

As my colleague Julie Beck observed last year, "It seems entirely possible that all eating is emotional eating." But there may be another layer in there, too: the possibility that all emotional eating is social eating—even, and maybe especially, when we're eating alone.

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NOW WATCH: Here's what Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen actually found at the bottom of the ocean in the Philippines

The 18 best snacks to eat at your desk

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Sabra Hummus

What you eat all day doesn't just impact your health and weight — it affects your productivity, too.

High fat, high sugar meals and snacks make us sleepy and have low energy, says Lisa De Fazio, a healthy lifestyle expert and registered dietitian. But thanks to things like boredom, lack of time, and sleep deprivation, people tend to make bad eating decisions during the workday.

Luckily, there are plenty of quick, easy, and inexpensive healthy snack options.

Almonds

Almonds are a great source of protein and healthy fat that is satisfying. "They contain nine essential nutrients; have the highest rate of proteins when compared to other nuts; have the highest rate of fiber (3.5g per 23 pieces) when compared to other nuts; are rich in Vitamin E (23 pieces provide 35% of the daily value of Vitamin E); and contain monounsaturated fats that help increase HDL levels," explains Nicole Maftoum, a Lebanese clinical dietitian



Low-fat popcorn

This low-calorie snack will satisfy your craving for something salty and crunchy, and it’s also a good source of fiber, De Fazio says. 



Fresh fruit

Fruits are packed with vitamins and minerals, and are full of great natural sweetness, Maftoum says. "They are also a great source of antioxidants needed for a stronger immune system and a better performance at work."



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15 brain foods that improve your productivity

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berries

If "you are what you eat," what are you?

I don't know about you, but that question used to make me pretty uncomfortable.

Before I learned how to change my eating habits for the better, I had packed on 40 extra pounds from poor eating.

Not only did I look bad, I lost the momentum I needed to work the long, hard hours entrepreneurship requires.

Fortunately, there's an enormous amount of information out there about the foods that are best for your body.

Foods do different things for you, and you'll find that some foods are especially beneficial for your brain and help facilitate mental processes like negotiation, willpower, and focus.

Consider the following 15 options as you build a diet that's designed to boost your productivity:

1. Berries

According to neuroscience research, dark-hued fruits and vegetables are the best foods you can consume to protect your brain against the effects of aging. And, as you might expect, by protecting your memory and other higher brain functions, you'll enable yourself to be at your most productive each and every day.

2. Bananas 

One banana holds the amount of glucose your brain needs for a whole day, which is why starting your day with a banana will keep your mind sharp and functioning well.

3. Eggs

Eggs contain a B-vitamin called choline that enhances memory and reaction time, giving you yet another reason not to skip breakfast!

4. Salmon

60% of your brain is made up of fatty acids, and salmon is packed with the best kind— DHA. Salmon is full of omega-3s, protein, B-vitamins, and iron — all of which help maintain memory, build focus, and support reasoning.

smoked salmon fish

5. Eggplant

The nutrients found in eggplant keep your brain sharp by improving communication between brain cells and messenger molecules. That said, if you want to take advantage of these benefits, it's important to use the skin of the vegetable. That's where the nutrients you need in order to reap the maximum benefits are located.

6. Spinach

A diet rich in spinach slows down age-related brain declines, and can significantly improve learning capacity and memory. It also packs tons of antioxidants, which helps reduce toxins that damage cells.

7. Whole grain foods

Whole grain breads and cereals contain a higher percentage of folate than your other carb options. Folate boosts blood flow to the brain, keeping it working at peak levels throughout the day. As you might expect, this is seriously important for your productivity levels.

8. Walnuts

Besides looking surprisingly similar to the human brain, walnuts can do great things to help keep you productive. They contain roughly 15-20% protein, as well as omega-6 and omega-3s fatty acids, vitamin E and vitamin B6 — all of which are important for overall health. They may also help correct serotonin levels, controlling both your mood and appetite.

9. Caffeine

Coffee lovers rejoice! There are a host of positive benefits to be had from caffeine, including increased alertness, improved memory, and even helping your eyes focus on the computer screen for longer. For best results, though, hold off drinking it until about 90 minutes after you wake up, as this will allow the natural AM surge of cortisol — which would otherwise inhibit caffeine's effect — to wear off.

coffee heart

10. Chocolate 

Can this list get any better? If you're in need of a sweet pick-me-up, dark chocolate contains antioxidant properties that help focus and concentration, while milk chocolate is good for improving reaction times and memory.

11. Green tea

Freshly brewed green tea enhances both memory and focus. It also contains catechines, which help you stay mentally relaxed, but focused. Green tea also contains antioxidants that can help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of signaling within the brain as well.

12. Dark leafy greens

Dark greens have a ton of nutrients, including iron, which helps blood flow and improves cognitive control. They also contain vitamin K, which slows the brain deterioration that occurs with age. If a big salad doesn't sound that appetizing to you, blend your leafy greens with a combination of citrus and berries to add sweetness.

13. Raw carrots 

Raw carrots have a low glycemic index, meaning that the glucose they contain is broken down slowly and helps fuel your brain at a steady pace all day. Avoiding glucose spikes steadies your mood and keeps your mind clear, letting you focus on your most important tasks all day long.

Carrot

14. Broccoli

Broccoli is called a "superfood" for a reason. It's also packed with an enormous nutrient load, including a great dose of vitamin K. As mentioned above, vitamin K plays a critical role in supporting your cognitive function and brain power.

15. Sunflower seeds

A great brain-boosting snack, sunflower seeds impact your mental processing powers and your overall mood. They're rich in thiamine, a B vitamin that increases cognitive function and memory. Skip the candy in the vending machine and reach for the sunflower seeds instead — your brain will thank you!

So there you have it — 15 foods that'll boost your brain power and your productivity. When you eat in a way that works with your body instead of against it, you'll find that it's not that hard to feel good throughout the day.

When you add these 15 foods to your daily diet, you'll be able to say goodbye to energy spikes and drops and hello to steady focus and effective productivity.

SEE ALSO: The 16 Best Snacks To Eat At Your Desk

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The secret ingredient to add to your grilled cheese

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5 of the tastiest foods I ate in Taiwan — and one of the strangest

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There are plenty of reasons to travel to Taiwan, but one thing any traveler to Taiwan should be most excited about is the food. 

From restaurants with certain specialties to night markets where you can sample a wide array of snacks, delicious food is pretty much all around. 

I recently spent two weeks traveling around the whole island, and sampled as much as I could. These five foods are not to be missed. 

1. Coffin Bread (棺材板) 

coffin toast

Granted not the most appetizing of names, but coffin bread (also called coffin toast or coffin sandwich) was far and away the most interesting and delicious food I tried. 

Coffin bread is a piece of super thick white bread French Toast, that is hollowed out and stuffed with something tasty. Originally invented in the southern city of Tainan, I sampled this snack at the Zhiqiang night market in Hualien. 

Coffin toast

You can pick from among a wide range of fillings, including three-cup chicken or pepper beef. The mixture of sweet and savory really hits the spot, and the toast is easy to munch on as you wander through the rest of the market.

Coffin Toast

Someone needs to make this snack a reality in the States, please.

2. Almond tofu (杏仁豆腐)

Served as a dessert or as a snack, chilled silken tofu comes in many forms and varieties, and the kind I discovered I loved in Taiwan is almond flavored.

I had some at a shopping mall food court that was served cubed over shaved ice. There were plenty of toppings to choose from including fresh fruit, taro balls, and sweet beans. 

Almond tofu

You can find tofu-related desserts at most night markets as well. There is an excellent shop near the Luodong night market that specializes in shaved ice balls served over your choice of bases and toppings. I went with silken tofu covered in honey and sesame seeds. 

tofu dessert

The weather in Taiwan is pretty hot, so this is a good treat to help cool off and not feel guilty about eating something sweet.  

3. Ice cream dorayaki

Ice cream dorayaki

I'll admit it: I have a sweet tooth. Which is exactly why I couldn't resist purchasing this treat from a street vendor in Jiufen: two small, fresh pancakes (called dorayaki) with a scoop of ice cream sandwiched between them.

Neither the pancakes nor the ice cream (I chose taro flavor, but other options included red bean, green tea, or hazelnut) are too sweet.

There's another famous vendor who sells ice cream in a rice wrapper with shaved peanut brittle and cilantro, but I preferred this Japanese-inspired treat. 

Peanut and ice cream burrito

4. Bei Gang spring roll (北港春捲)

Spring roll stall

If you find yourself in Hualien at the Zhiqiang night market, and you're not too full already from the Coffin Toast, you should definitely head to the Bei Gang Spring Roll stall

The concept is basically an Asian version of Chipotle, where you pick your protein and your toppings, and then they roll it all up in a delicious burrito. Your choices are beef or pork, with flavorings like mustard, garlic, chilli, or curry.  Most people just had them add all the toppings available: bean sprouts, cabbage, hard tofu, scrambled eggs, and crushed peanuts. 

Spring roll innards

The only downside to this food item was the wait. There's a long line, and they can only prepare so many at a time, so expect to stand for a bit. But it's worth it. 

5. Beef noodle soup (牛肉麵)

Beef noodle soup

This is pretty much a staple at most restaurants, and can be found sold in paper bowls at night markets many stalls. Basically if you see a big vat of dark broth, and spot some freshly pulled noodles on a counter top, you should order yourself some soup.

Noodle shop

And the strangest thing I ate in Taiwan was a mysterious fried cube (糕渣)

Gao zha

Some background: my Airbnb host in Yilan was a great guy who has a couple recommendations for stalls that I needed to check out at the Luodong night market there. He helpfully wrote the names of the stalls in Chinese, and told me what to order at the most popular one. 

My theory when traveling abroad is that if the locals like something, it's probably great, so I should at least give it a try. 

As I got to the front of the line at this stall, I still didn't know what to expect. I gauged from the workers that they were dredging something in flour and frying it, but even my handy Chinese dictionary couldn't help me when I tried to look up the characters for what I had ordered. The translation for the characters gao zha was "cake" "dregs". 

Gaozha numbers

When my order arrived and I gamely bit into the hot fried cube, I found it surprisingly soft inside. The taste wasn't offensive, but nor was it indicative of what I was chewing. Still clueless, I assumed I was eating some kind of salty, pulverized vegetable, such as corn. 

When I finally returned to my Airbnb (and to wi-fi), I found the answer: Gaozha is a local specialty in Yilan that consists of chicken soup that gets ground up and mixed with potato starch so it thickens as it cools. When it is the texture of soft tofu, it's placed in the boxes on the left, and when ordered it's cubed and fried. 

Fried chicken soup

I don't regret trying it, but I can't say I'd make a repeat visit.

There are so many other great dishes in Taiwan, so I took this postcard as a reminder to myself of what I still need to try when I go back again.

Taiwanese foods

SEE ALSO:  23 reasons why you should book your next trip to Taiwan

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