Ina Garten's Favorite Comfort Food Isn't What You'd Expect (and It's Actually Really Good for You)

Ina Garten is no stranger to comfort food. Her latest cookbook, Modern Comfort Food, is full of delicious recipes that are perfect for when you need a cozy meal like crispy chicken with lemon orzo or Boston cream pie. Ina is truly the queen of comfort food—which is why the news of her favorite comfort food took us by surprise.

In an interview with NPR, Ina discussed her new cookbook and talked about her process for creating some of the recipes in the book, including her twists on pasta carbonara, tomato soup and beef stew. And when asked what her favorite comfort food is, Ina's answer was immediate: "I do like a good bowl of oatmeal."

Apparently, Ina has been eating oatmeal for years, so it makes sense that she lists it as her number one food. And while my go-to comfort foods involve cheese or potatoes (or a combination of the two), Ina's choice of oatmeal is a healthy option that you could actually eat every day.

Oatmeal has some impressive health benefits. It's high in fiber, which keeps you fuller for longer periods of time, helps with weight loss and promotes healthier gut bacteria. The whole grain can also help reduce LDL cholesterol levels. It's pretty much a superfood in our book!

Aside from these health benefits, oatmeal is also quick, which is perfect for busy mornings. Or if you plan ahead, overnight oats, like Blueberry-Banana Overnight Oats or Apple-Cinnamon Overnight Oats, are another delicious option. Oatmeal is super versatile, so you could easily have a new variation each morning without getting bored.

It's easy to see why Ina loves oatmeal, but she does have a few other classic comfort foods she enjoys. In the interview, she discussed her love of mac and cheese, which she described as "one of those things...that just fills you up in a nice way." And her husband Jeffrey loves grilled cheese and tomato soup, followed by roast chicken. Now if only we could eat these comfort foods every day!