By Dr. Liji Thomas, MD Reviewed by Lauren Hardaker Jul 14 2025 We think that we eat comfort food for pleasure, but science shows boredom and the need for a mental boost is what really sends us diving into the snack drawer. Study:  Why Do We Eat Comfort Food? Exploring Expectations Regarding Comfort Food and Their Relationship with Comfort Eating Frequency. Image credit: Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com Comfort food is commonly consumed worldwide and is widely associated with various emotional