It’s almost fall break; so, by now, everyone is burnt out by school and struggling to justify their life choices. No matter who or your position at Washington University, you need an outlet. Exercise, endless YouTube videos and partying are all common ways we destress, and each have their merits. But the king of refilling your emotional tank is food. Comfort food reminds you of home, of love and of having a healthy amount of self-confidence that is rare as a student at Wash. U. Here are some of the comfort foods I think we all need to have in order to survive the daily torment we all pay so much to enjoy.

Nachos

The ultimate bar food is the first entry. Endlessly customizable, the nacho can satisfy any dietary restriction or taste. But what makes a plate of nachos true comfort food? A good sturdy chip to hold a little bit of everything is obviously the foundation you need to begin with. Good cheese, shredded or liquid, will be the literal glue to keep everything in place. Fresh salsa, beans and meat need to be in abundance in order to avoid naked chips at the end. Nachos are also great to share to get that much-needed human contact in your life.

Fried chicken and mashed potatoes

Comfort is all about feeling good, not about being healthy. Relaxing in front of a show to marathon with juicy, salty and crunchy chicken is a key to life that even DJ Khaled can cosign. But chicken alone is not enough, the mashed potatoes can serve as your vegetable for the day (it counts), and pairing it with the right gravy will have you convinced that the colonel is the most profound genius in American history.

Chicken Wings

Deep fried and smothered in sauce, chicken wings may be the most satisfying part of the bird to eat. It doesn’t have the most meat, and is often overpriced, but damn do I love to order slightly too many wings and eat them in one sitting. The abundance of wing-centric restaurants along with the increasing number of places that offer their own specialized sauces means you can try something new every day.

Fast Food

Normally, getting fast food is reserved for emergencies or late-night shenanigans. But when it feels like the world is crushing on you harder than that girl you sometimes see on the Green Line, fast food can be a life saver. The speed and affordability combine to make the decision too easy to pass up when you don’t want to think about cooking that chicken breast and broccoli. Remember those times as a kid when you couldn’t eat fast food every day and go wild. But only for a bit, you have to deal with the other side of fast food.

Ice Cream

Switching to the cooler side of the food world, we have ice cream. Cookie dough, chunky monkey and rocky road are all staples in my freezer. Talenti has become a steady favorite, as their flavors are more interesting and worth the higher cost (Roman Raspberry is bae). You can pair it with pie or cake or more ice cream. Speaking of cake…

Cake

I love cake. Sinking you fork into a moist chocolate cake is topped by maybe three other things in the world. The best thing about cake is that you can have it day after day after day. I had a strawberry-filled, chocolate Scooby-Doo cake for my 10th birthday that I didn’t have to share, and it remains my favorite birthday by a country mile.

We all need comfort as we go through Wash. U. and more times than not our options are limited. When you’re down in the dumps about life and the world in general, take a minute and indulge in your favorite greasy, messy, salty, sweet and unhealthy culinary dreams.