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In the aftermath of Sept. 11, health officials said ASU students have sought out many things for comfort, especially food.

Students have been visiting the counseling center on campus with comfort food issues, said Kimberly Wright, a senior psychologist at ASU Counseling and Consultation.

"There has been a real clear shift since Sept. 11," she said. "Generally people who are struggling with food issues are feeling it the most."

Comfort foods are any foods that soothe a person or remind them of a comfortable time in their lives. There has been a noticeable increase in the consumption of comfort foods such as ice cream, cookies, pot roast and instant mashed potatoes, said Linda Vaughn, chair of the nutrition department.

"Nutrition researchers across the country have been monitoring eating patterns after the terrorist attacks," she said.

Unless college students were directly affected by the attacks, Vaughn said, most students probably aren't turning to comfort foods.

"Most students are still responding to the stress of college life," she said.

Some people are reacting to the national tragedy by altering their food choices or increasing the amount of food they eat, Vaughn said. Others are doing the opposite by under-eating or not eating at all.

Comfort foods satisfy people because carbohydrates act as a natural seratonin to enhance one's mood, and fats help to calm people down, Wright said.

Karen Moses, director of health education and wellness at ASU, said although some people find comfort in food, she has not seen a change in students' behavior.

"I know that we eat comfort foods when we need comfort," she said. "And at a time like this, it makes sense."

Sociology junior Rasheedah Mullings, who has family in New York and Washington, D.C., said since the terrorist attacks, she has started preparing home-cooked food. "Eating comfort food is a bit exaggerated," she said.

Things will go back to normal in time, Wright said, but "feelings of anxiety and vulnerability will be with us for a while."

Reach Jennifer Voges at jennyvoges@hotmail.com.


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