"Comfort Food"

Since I have been in South Africa, I have had intense cravings for the sweetest of foods. Cupcakes, chocolate bars, and ice cream are in the top 3 of my list of must-haves, pretty much every day. Don’t get me wrong - I do sometimes crave sweets at home, but not like I do here. Chocolate, for me, has a nostalgic appeal to my senses. I feel at ease when I eat it, as I feel when I am at home.

While on the topic of foods, in particular junk foods, I have found myself craving fast food here too, which I rarely even eat in the states. But yesterday, after a depressing flight back to Joburg from a weekend away in Cape Town and a day full of homework, a few of us ordered McDonald’s delivery. Yes, McDonald’s delivers here - it is quite scary.

It is incredibly remarkable to me that the McDonald’s burger I guiltily ate - although the meat was organic - tasted exactly the same as the McDonald’s burger I ate in Philadelphia over a month ago.

The fries were still as salty, crispy and mouth watering as I remembered too.

I understand that this is all in the McDonald’s corporation’s plan to promote a well-known and approved product for consumers that, no matter what, provides a sense of comfort.

Consumers have the comfort in knowing exactly what the McDonald’s meal will taste like before ordering, that the price will be low, and that the meal will indeed be in your mouth within ten minutes after ordering - No matter where you are in the world.

I wish I didn’t crave such comfort foods, but I will admit they have been a major factor in de-stressing while abroad.

Why couldn’t I just stick to yoga instead?