APPLE crumble has emerged as the surprise favourite comfort food for Scots.
A new UK study found fish and chips and shepherds pie were beaten by desserts and puddings as the foods most likely to bring back happy memories.
The research into food and mood found 31% of Scots would choose apple pie, over childhood favourites shepherd’s pie (21%), bangers and mash (30%) and fish and chips (19%).
Ice cream came out top as the food most likely to remind us of childhood memories, with 33% , whilst 25% said strawberries and cream would make the most people happy.
The research was commissioned by Bupa, which is working to understand the wider issues that affect its care home residents’ enjoyment and appetite for food.
One of their top cooks has now created a recipe book including cream scones, ginger biscuits, brandy baskets, lemon meringue and vanilla cheesecake.
The UK-wide study of 2100 adults was carried out last month.
The one exception to the ‘dessert’ rule was roast dinner, which made 41% feel most at home.
Three quarters of Brits (80%) also said food could boost their mood and (80%) said families today are missing out on creating happy memories by not eating meals together,
Dr Pablo Vandenabeele, psychiatrist and Bupa’s head of mental health, said: “Food is much more than just taste and sustenance, it connects us to family traditions, cherished moments and loved ones.
“There is also a well-known link between food and mood – for example a reduced appetite can be an early warning sign of problems such as depression.
“Desserts are often the foods we choose to celebrate, to treat or spoil ourselves, so we are more likely to connect them with happy moments from our lives, and are memories we recall with such fondness.”
he research has even prompted Margaret McFlynn, chef manager at Bupa’s Mugdock House Care Home in Bearsden, Glasgow to create a cook book.
