The context to your ice cream or scorching chip binge may very well matter greater than the rest. Folks eat for therefore many emotional causes, notes Oxford psychologist Charles Spence, whether or not they’re consuming fish and chips or Brussels sprouts. They eat to maintain their good moods, to have a good time, to go the time. And the meals itself is totally different from tradition to tradition. An oft-cited Indian consolation meals is khichri, a savoury porridge of lentils and rice, topped with pickles; for some Chinese language individuals, the massive lion’s head meatball, a globe of spiced ground pork, scratches that itch. A Syrian would possibly wax lyrical about mujaddara, a lentil and bulgur dish heaped with caramelised onions, and French individuals would possibly dream of tartiflette, the tacky, lardon-laden potato casserole. For Swiss individuals from Canton de Vaud, the hyper-local delicacy of saucisse-aux-choux with leeks and potatoes can summon consolation when it is wanted most.
Makes an attempt to categorise consolation meals as crunchy or mushy, straightforward to eat or pleasingly troublesome, have largely did not discover a sample, even inside a given tradition. However some clear proof of individuals consuming consolation meals for consolation’s sake comes from, of all people, tourists.
Removed from dwelling, slightly intimidated by the native delicacies, and possibly sick or jet-lagged, individuals in two main airports in Taiwan had been surveyed by researchers. These travellers who did not wish to strive new meals had been the happiest as they consumed their consolation meals, confirming that not less than in some conditions, acquainted meals do play the position we think about they do – giving reassurance, a way of belonging, and a secure anchor, alongside all of the energy.
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