What does the Japanese term "kuchisabishi" say about our relationship to food?
What does the Japanese term "kuchisabishi" say about our relationship to food?
Anonim

You have come across this phenomenon more than once without even knowing about this word.

What does the Japanese term "kuchisabishi" say about our relationship to food?
What does the Japanese term "kuchisabishi" say about our relationship to food?

If you notice that you go to the refrigerator many times, although you do not want to eat, or lean more on your favorite food, it looks like you have a kuchisabishi. This Japanese word literally means "lonely mouth" or "the urge to put something in your mouth." It is used when they mean that they are eating out of boredom or seizing stress.

When you have a kuchisabishi, you are not driven by hunger, but by the desire to feel that you are chewing something.

This concept also carries a connotation of comfort and reassurance. The word can be heard during kaiseki, a traditional Japanese multi-course meal where a small snack is offered at the beginning of the meal to "satisfy your kuchisabishi." It is also used to describe the desire of a person who has quit smoking to take a drag on a cigarette to relieve stress.

When you have nothing to occupy your mouth with, it "feels lonely." You become like a child who is weaning from a pacifier, or a character in the game Pac-Man, who needs to eat all the points in a maze, and rummage in the refrigerator or lockers in search of a snack.

From time to time, we all feel like chewing something to calm down or distract ourselves. But if you find yourself indulging kuchisabishi more and more often, this is a serious reason to think about your eating behavior. For example, if you are constantly eating without being hungry, eating large portions very quickly, and then feeling guilty afterwards, this could indicate binge eating disorder.

Think about what actually triggered your desire, and try to eat more mindfully. Find tips to help you with this. You may be able to keep control of the kuchisabishi thanks to a food journal, where you will record all the main meals and snacks. Or the habit of storing snacks and sweets in a locker, not in plain sight, and transferring them from a large factory package to a dish, so as not to eat too much at one time, will help you out.

If you notice that you have begun to snack more out of boredom, think about how you can entertain yourself in a different way: watch a comedy, go for a walk, chat with friends, or do something that is guaranteed to cheer you up.

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