Food and Nostalgia

​It was in the 1600s That a Swiss medical student coined the word (nostalgia) while serving in European wars due to the emotional pain of longing to return home, we call it home sickness. Incidentally, (Nostos) translates to (return), and (algos) carries the meaning of (pain).)  Because these emotions triggered anxiety and even physical sickness due to being away from familiarity. We as Humans have a fundamental need to belong, and because nostalgia is centric to past personal events relating to people and things  we care for, this tends to evoke a nostalgic sense of belonging.

For example, in retrospect, as a boy during the Hot summer’s days in the park, are related to the ice cream truck, county fairs went hand in hand with corn dogs, baseball games always called for hotdogs and a coke, smells at movie theaters were associated with eating popcorn and reminiscing of these things  offer me a sense of comfort. And I am confident you too have similar memories.

In one recent episode, my guest, the Director of Communications for the National American Meat Institute (NAMI), discussed the American iconic food, the "hot dog" of which conjured up a flood of memories growing up, and I have to admit these memories are profound, triggering thoughts of how good it tasted as well as how good the hot dog made me feel. And in this article I will share some fun facts about the iconic hot dog  and my research of the science of nostalgia.

I will call it what it is, "Comfort food" when we associate it to the past with loved ones, social places of entertainment, and thinking when mom would take care of us when we were a child. I asked my guest how he prefers his hot dog, and he said without uncertain terms, "with meat sauce and cheese accompanied with lemonade to wash it down." I am sure you too have your preference as I do which takes me home. But there are many misconceptions as to the process, so what is in a hot dog?

What goes into a hot dog has been subjected to lots of humor, controversy, and speculation. So let us set the record straight, hot dogs are all cured which consist of mainly  a combination of pork, beef, poultry, meats that come from the muscle of the animal and there is no different from what you see in the grocer's case.

Additionally, the hot dog includes water, curing agents and what my wife would say "spices is what makes the food" such as salt, ground mustard, garlic, sugar, nutmeg, coriander, and yummy white pepper. My guest also stated, in this country, companies are mandated to list the ingredients in order, from the principal ingredient to the least element of ingredient, in other words, there is no secret, just read the package label for your culinary satisfaction.

Ever wonder how the term "hot dog" came about? Of course, it is nothing to lose sleep about, but it is an interesting story.

The story goes that it was coined in 1901 at the Polo Grounds in New York  on a chili April day. Vendors were peddling hot dogs from portable hot water tanks yelling "They're red hot! Get your dachshund sausages while they are red hot!" So happened this got a sports cartoonist’s attention, and quickly sketched a cartoon of a barking dachshund sausages snuggled hot in bread rolls. Not certain how to spell "dachshund" he simply, like I would have done, wrote "hot dog!" Subsequently, the cartoon became a tremendous sensation, thus coining the phrase "hot dog." The cartoonist, not knowing the correct spelling, must have gone to the same school I attended.

Did you know there is hot dog etiquette that NAMI advocates?

First, is the hot dog a sandwich? My guest emphatically said "no." He proceeded to explain, if you remove the dog from the bun, it is still a dog where if you remove turkey meat from your sandwich, it ceases to be a turkey sandwich, the point was well taken. And always use a "cloth napkin" and nothing else to wipe your mouth when enjoying your hot dog, he said.

On what do you put your toppings between the hot dog or the bun? Invariably, "dress the dog," never the bun he wants us to know. Condiments should be in the following order without deviation. Wet toppings like mustard and chili are put in first, followed by chunky condiments like relish, onions, and mouthwatering sauerkraut, followed by shredded cheese, then by spices, such as celery salt or pepper and in this order, he said. Not sure what will happen if we digress a bit, who knows, the earth may stop turning on its axes, so let us not take a chance.

He also said that you should never ever enjoy your hot dog with a glass of wine, I agreed wholeheartedly, in fact, I told him that there should be legislation against this ever happening.

The following is nonnegotiable according to NAMI, you must eat your hot dogs on buns strictly with your hands, and Utensils are prohibited entirely from touching your hot dogs on buns. My guest also said you must use paper plates to serve your hot dogs, however, every day dishes are permissible , but China is unforgivable. Of course, the forgoing was in tongue in cheek, but there are so many other things that are nostalgic and not limited to comfort food.

But once in a great while, what is wrong with eating like when we were kids? Go ahead enjoy your hot dog in however you like it, a corn dog smothered with mustard or a sloppy joe along with a nice glass of icy soda and call it a Nostalgia Special even if it is not the healthiest food  to eat. Now, wait a minute, you may be thinking I am going against healthy eating, and you are right! But I also said, "once in a great while!" So, what if it shaves off 2 seconds of your life span? Whatever last few moments you have may turn out to be the happiest moments you ever had while enjoying yourself.

It reminds me of an elderly woman well over her 90s, whose diet was unreasonably restricted, what a shame to alienate her from eating what she wants and reminisce of better days!

Research in psychology has shown that we seek out comfort food that is reminiscent of our past when we experience feelings of loneliness and isolation. The culinary aromas in the air bring fond memories of mom cooking a roast in the oven, baking cookies or peach cobbler tend to evoke nostalgia of a more carefree time while also increasing self-esteem, optimism, and feelings of being anchored down in life.

Incidentally, nostalgia is not limited to food, have you lately sat down and watch an old movie from your childhood years? How often have you viewed The Wizard of OZ or Jimmy Steward as George Bailey in It is a Wonderful Life? Or an old TV series that reminds you of sitting on the hard linoleum floor in front of the Tv enjoying your favorite ice cream out of a bowl?

Here again neuroscience research conclusively  tells us that  these occasions promote brain health by triggering the release of the happy hormone known as dopamine. Yes, go ahead and enjoy an old Disney movie, Sleeping Beauty, Pinocchio, or anything that was your happy place   that you and family enjoyed together while growing up, reminding you of a more joyful time.

How about listening to what many refer to the "the good oldies?" You are not only listening to nostalgic music, but you are there in the moment, remembering where you were and what you were doing at the time, remembering the year that left an indelible memory of simpler times in life. It is no wonder research suggests that we prefer music that was popular during adolescence  and during our 20s helping us to reengage that period.

Another aspect for a booster of nostalgia, visit your local library. Do you remember the books you enjoyed while you were a child that took you away from the pressures of growing up? You can recapture those same feelings today!

Nostalgia is an interesting thing and can be enjoyed in so many ways such as in collecting items from your era, assuming you are up in years. They make for good pieces of conversation, and not to mention something people will remember you by as a legacy. So, the sooner you start collecting anything of interest to you the better, and you can sit in the middle of it all as an enjoyable psychological hot tub, yes, a "hot tub for the mind."

There is an intrinsic value in sharing our experiences via verbally of the past, especially, when there is a stark contrast to our unnerving present day. But when we can share our memories with those same folks  we created them with, it is a way to keep that relationship alive and well strengthened. Even if it is not possible, nostalgia is a form of self-preservation, so sharing our memories while cultivating new friends who do not have a clue of your past,  can help build and widen relationships. So, yak it up, be yourself and be generous in sharing your heart with others. It has been documented that a life span is only 70 or 80 years in longevity, learn to enjoy it with nostalgia Because life today is uncertain and unstable to say the least, let us look to the certainty and emotional comfort of the past which will make you feel better, will spur you on and will tether you to the real world.