COMFORT FOOD While we rely on foods to nourish the body, some foods also have the special ability to nourish the soul. "Comfort food" can take on a number of different forms -- from favorite childhood foods and hearty meals like Mom used to make, to ethnic dishes that conjure up memories of home and rich desserts that are an indulgent treat. Taste of Home magazine recently surveyed 1,000 Americans to find out their favorite comfort foods. Chocolate and desserts top the list -- a full 35 percent of respondents turn to chocolate and desserts, indicating that soothing the sweet tooth may also help soothe the spirit. Ranking high was ice cream, with 13 percent of respondents saying a frozen treat lifts their mood. About 12 percent prefer to crunch their way to contentment with salty snacks such as corn chips, peanuts and potato chips. Pizza (11 percent), macaroni and cheese (9 percent) and meatloaf (9 percent) rounded out the list of favorites. The poll found women are much more likely than men to choose chocolate and sweets as their favorite comfort food (39 percent vs. 17 percent). 18 percent of urban dwellers prefer ice cream for comfort, while only 10 percent of rural and 11 percent of suburban dwellers choose frozen treats as their favorite. Chocolate rates most popular with those in rural areas (23 percent). In the suburbs, 11 percent name mashed potatoes as their comfort food, compared to only 7 percent of rural and 6 percent of urban residents.