Experience Comfort Food Like Never Before: ‘Grub in the Tub’ Takes You Back to the Womb – Chicago Reader Insights

Every bone feels sore. I’m deep into an 18-week marathon training for the Chicago Marathon. This is my second time, so the aches are familiar. My right hamstring complains with every stretch. A left hip flexor strain keeps reminding me I’m not invincible. Last year’s shin splints seem to shadow every mile. Sometimes, my feet tingle like they’re under attack.

To cope, I’ve turned to my bathtub for relief. I’ve got ice packs swirling in the chilly water, and Epsom salt dissolving in the heat. It’s a balancing act between freezing and steaming my muscles.

On the food front, I’m indulging in carbs. The body needs them for energy, especially on long runs. A bonus? I can eat as much pasta as I want without guilt. It’s like my very own buffet.

One night, with fatigue wrapping around me like a blanket, I made a questionable choice. I grabbed a steaming bowl of bucatini with pesto and sank into the tub. The warmth of the water and the food made me feel cozy. In that moment, with every bite topped in cheese, I felt pure joy.

But my partner walked in unexpectedly. There I was, noodles halfway to my mouth, steam rising around me like some pasta-laden sorcerer. “I’m genuinely worried about the person you’ll become if I die first,” they joked. “A bathtub eater? That’s pretty gross!”

Is it really that disgusting? Eating in the tub feels like a timeless act of indulgence. It has roots that stretch back through history. For instance, eight years ago, paleontologists uncovered a fossil of a 530-million-year-old creature called Saccorhytus. They believe it was one of humanity’s oldest ancestors, feeding by engulfing food through its oversized mouth. Sounds a bit like how humans might enjoy a bowl of pasta in the bath, right?

Despite our evolution, we have this lingering connection to water and nourishment. Think back to the womb, where we first experience food in the warm, comforting fluid. We’re hardwired for that feeling of safety and satisfaction. And while it may be unappealing to think about, even fetuses create waste in that environment.

Interestingly, the Saccorhytus may not have even had an anus and might have excreted waste back through its mouth. So, it raises the question—when did we start differentiating where we eat and what we eat? Some traditions suggest that even in high culture, like in movies or literature, eating in questionable places has its charm. For instance, who can forget Bill Murray in Caddyshack, discovering something unsanitary in a pool but still relishing a candy bar? It adds a layer of humor to our connection with food, regardless of the setting.

In today’s society, we even see communities embracing “shower meals” online, with people sharing images of eating fruit while bathing. There’s something endearing about that celebration of life’s little pleasures. A dedicated Reddit group even shares photos of people enjoying everything from oranges to pasta in their tubs. Most of them seem harmless, while a few really push the envelope. It’s a reminder that pleasure comes in different forms, even if it raises eyebrows.

So, while my commitment to pasta in the tub might raise a few eyebrows, I believe it speaks to a deeper connection we have with our roots, our food, and ourselves. Whether indulgent or a tad crazy, enjoying a meal in a comforting setting will always hold a special place in our hearts.

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Pleasure 2025,Vol. 54 No. 46