The holidays can feel magical — and chaotic. Between the gatherings, travel and long to-do lists, many of us look for small ways to stay grounded. Holiday comfort foods and family traditions often do exactly that, helping us slow down and reconnect with what matters most.
We asked team members from Metro Parent and the United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM) to share the comfort foods that bring them calm during the season — and the stories behind them.
“They taste like Home.” — Cathy Flaga, Admin & Inventory Specialist, UDIM
For Cathy, Christmas has always meant one thing: her sister Mary’s cookies. They’re made, as she says, from “Love and Real Butter.” Even during COVID, when the family couldn’t gather, Mary mailed a tin of cookies to each of Cathy’s 10 siblings so their Christmas Eve tradition remained intact.
Now that their parents have passed, these cookies hold even more meaning. Cathy says, “These cookies help me feel grounded and calm. They taste like Home. And serving them on my mom’s 1960’s silver platter brings all her love through as well.”
Her three children feel the same way. They all have their individual favorites and dream about Aunt Mary’s cookies all year long. “I hope they continue the tradition into the next generation,” she says. “These cookies help me feel grounded and calm.”
“My kids love peeling, boiling and mashing!” — David Arkin, Editor-in-Chief, Metro Parent
For David, comfort comes in the form of warm, creamy mashed potatoes, made with just the right amount of heavy cream and butter — a holiday staple his kids love to help create.
“Peeling, boiling and mashing is a whole event in our house,” he says. “It’s always been a tradition in our family and now the kids get in on the act.”
Whether they’re talking, laughing or sneaking tastes of butter along the way, the process has become part of the magic.
It’s simple and familiar — a recipe that brings the whole family together and offers a few much-needed minutes of joy and grounding during the holiday rush.
“My favorite thing for the holidays is hot cocoa that is heavy on dairy!” — Samantha Whitehead, Industry Relations Specialist, UDIM
Samantha’s holiday comfort comes in a mug: a special holiday-version of hot cocoa. “My favorite thing for the holidays is hot cocoa that is heavy on dairy! My hot cocoa is made with warm milk, a tab of butter for extra rich and creamy goodness, and topped with delicious, whipped cream,” she says.
When the to-do lists get hectic, Samantha slows down with her favorite hot cocoa recipe.
“During the holiday season everyone is so busy. The time I take to make and enjoy the hot cocoa just slows me down for a minute to enjoy the aspects of the holiday season that I sometimes forget to enjoy. Whether it’s looking at my holiday decor, watching my favorite holiday movie or even finishing up holiday cards and gifts, this hot cocoa elevates my experience and provides a level of holiday comfort I love and appreciate!”
It’s a simple ritual, but a powerful one — a warm reminder to savor the moment.
Find your own comfort this season
Whether comfort comes from a passed-down family dessert, a dish your kids help you make or a warm drink topped with homemade whipped cream, these foods have a way of bringing us back to what matters most.
Explore the stories below in our interactive feature.
This content is sponsored by United Dairy Industry of Michigan / Milk Means More. Learn more at milkmeansmore.org.
Find more articles like this at Metro Parent’s How to Get Kids to Eat Healthy.
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