Swoveralls Comfort Club · September 2023 · Volume 1, Issue 3

The Science Behind Comfort Food

By Kyle Bergman, Founder of Swoveralls · September 2023

Am I actually pointing at someone or just watering a plant? Trick question: I'm pointing at a plant, and there's no water in the pot.

Stop what you're doing. This newsletter is what you need right now. Here's what we've got:

• The science behind comfort food: Why? More like, why not?
• Molasses Cookie Recipe: (see above re: why not)
• A non-profit for the pups: Meet Snooty Giggles
• Brand crush: No Limbits
• Double trouble: 👶 👶
• By the numbers: Comfy Stats

But first, a letter from our editor (me, Kyle):

Hey Comfy Fam,

This newsletter is starting to get some comfy community legs. What I mean is, in the first couple of issues, it was yours truly providing the content, which I am happy to do (forever). But I knew y'all were opening, reading, and clicking (thank you, email gods).

I'm excited. Because this month we have some customers featured, and deservedly so. I had the great honor of communicating with Nicole and Shawna, whom you'll read more about below.

The beautiful thing about all of this is, it's just cool to see this newsletter start to take on a life of its own. A wise person once said, you can't build a community for people, you build a community with people. The same certainly holds true for this little waistband-free movement we have here. So thank you. Thank you for reading. Thank you for reaching out. And thank you for continuing to spread the comfy love.

Now let's get to it.

The Science of Comfort Food 🧪

Every month, we'll share some sort of comfort hack. In our first newsletter we talked about organizing your calendar or to-do list. Last month, we spoke about box breathing. This month, it's about FOOD.

Dopamine, Nostalgia, and Texture 🤤

Dopamine: When we eat comfort food, our brains release dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is associated with pleasure and reward. This is why we often feel good after eating comfort food, even if it's not the healthiest choice. Taking it a step further, comfort foods are often high in salt and fat. These nutrients are essential for our survival, so our brains are wired to crave them. When we eat salty or fatty foods, our brains release endorphins, which have pain-killing and mood-boosting effects. The Olsen twins totally get it.

Nostalgia: Comfort foods can also trigger happy memories from our childhood. This is because the smell and taste of food can activate the same parts of the brain that are involved in memory formation. So when we eat comfort food, it can bring back memories of a time when we felt safe and loved.

Texture: The texture of food can also be comforting. For example, soft foods like mashed potatoes or chicken noodle soup can be soothing to eat when we're feeling stressed or upset.

So there you have it, the science behind why food provides comfort for us. It's all about the brain chemicals, the memories, and the textures. Next time you want to get comfy, give your body what it needs. Whether that be the comfiest overalls or onesies ever made by humankind, or maybe just a cookie.

Hey speaking of cookies...

Molasses Cookie Recipe by Nicole Phillips (Certified Comfort Coach)

Nicole, her friend's doggo, and some Dijon Swoveralls 🙌

Nicole emailed me last month saying she loved the newsletter, and offered to share some cookie recipes. That's what I'm talking about.

She also thanked me for making such a delightful product which I thought was beautifully said, and very nice. Thanks Nicole :).

Below you can checkout Nicole's world famous (my words, not hers) Molasses Cookies. She chose this recipe because Fall is upon us. I tried them out and spoiler alert: they're delicious (or perhaps delightful is apt).

Ingredients

• 3/4 c butter, melted
• 1 c white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/4 c molasses
• 2 c all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp cloves
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 1/2 c white sugar

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix together melted butter, 1 cup sugar, and egg until smooth.
2. Stir in molasses.
3. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger.
4. Blend into the molasses mixture.
5. Cover and chill for at least an hour.
6. While chilling, preheat oven to 375° F.
7. Roll into walnut sized balls, and roll them in the 1/2 cup of white sugar.
8. Place cookies about 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.
9. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until tops are cracked, then cool on wire racks.

And voilá. You will have the perfect Fall cookie.

I really did bake these. And they really are amazing.

Don't believe me? Check out the TikTok I made of it here.

Thank you again Nicole for making this comfy newsletter even comfier.

Snooty Giggles Dog Rescue

On this Earth there are animals who are blessed to be born healthy and into conditions of wellness and love, and then there are the others. The others are those animals blessed with super powers waiting to be discovered, waiting for someone to discover them so they can fly their flags. Those are the dogs and occasional friends from other species of Snooty Giggles Dog Rescue (a 501c3 non-profit) located in Middle Tennessee. - Snooty Giggles

Shawn (Founder of Snooty Giggles and certified comfort coach) and I spoke recently when she kindly responded to my email requesting to chat (some of you may receive these types of emails from me, and it's just me wanting to say hi and get to know more of our amazing Swoveralls community).

I was blown away when I learned about Snooty Giggles, and how amazing their organization is.

Thank you Shawn for helping those other Super Hero puppers wave their flags.

If you're interested in adopting, donating, or learning more about Snooty Giggles you can check them out here.

In other comfy news

❤️ Brand Crush: No Limbits

No Limbits (a fellow Shark Tank alum :) was created by Erica Cole while solving a personal problem. After losing her leg in a car crash, she discovered her new prosthetic leg wasn't compatible with her existing wardrobe. Enter: No Limbits, a sensory-friendly apparel brand designed for those with limited dexterity. I absolutely LOVE No Limbits, and you can learn more about them here.

👶👶 Twins Entering Swovie HQ

Next month, I'm having twins. Well, technically my Wife Elizabeth is having them, but I'm pretty sure (like 99.9%) I'm the Dad. Twin Boys. Get ready for pictures. I've already packed my bags, and will take all the twin advice ya got.

🤓 Comfy Numbers (Comfy Lab Edition)

• $11,270 - amount of customer savings we've helped make through our crowdfunding platform, the Comfy Lab
• 1,068 - number of Comfy Lab members we've had contribute to these preorder campaigns
• 26 - different products launched through this platform

The Comfy Lab was inspired by Taylor Stitch's workshop model (not to be confused with Taylor Swift), which was inspired by Kickstarter. It's so cool to get our community to bring new product ideas to life. Right now, we have the new Corduroy in the comfy lab, and later this month we'll be launching Teddy Fleece in Midnight Black and Brown with Navy Trim. Woo.

PS: Have any comfort recommendations you'd like to share? Feel free to reply here and let me know. I'd be happy to include it in a future newsletter and of course give ya a shoutout.

PSS: Love this newsletter? Can't stand it? Reply here and let me know and I'll personally get back to you.

Stay Comfy,

Founder, Chief Swoveralls Officer

PSSS: If you made it this far, you might as well join our new facebook group here (the Comfort Club).