Omiyage Culture is Killing My Diet

Omiyage culture is something that troubles a lot of foreigners, including me, when they are on the giving end. However, I love being on the receiving end. I work in three schools with about 80 coworkers totally. Not to mention, I have about 12 private students that I teach on the side. Plus, in my dance groups/classes, the other members are always giving out snacks and omiyages. This means I get a ton of omiyage, or souvenirs!!  

Most of the time, I receive cookies, Japanese traditional snacks, or rice crackers. I love all three, which is not a good formula. I end up eating many, many snacks as a result. What can seem just like one or two small snacks a day, really adds up in calories. But I boredom eat, so when I am sitting at my desk, I eat them.

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Since I have come back to Japan, I have put on a bit of weight for various reasons, omiyage being one of them. I am trying to cut back on my snacks. There really is no polite way for me to say no, so I have been trying to give them to the other ALT I work with.

Just today, I received a huge bag of chocolate from my students that went to America. And I know what some of you are thinking. I should just ration it out right? Well, that is a skill that I have yet to master and I really struggle with it. It is really an all or nothing thing with me. I gave some of the chocolate to my coworker, but I am trying to figure out what to do with the rest.

On another day, the first day I decided to start my diet, my private student gave me some pumpkin pie that her mom made. I really love pumpkin pie, and I didn’t get any at Thanksgiving this year, so I ate it, of course. And it was amazing.

Heck, even after dance class, the girls go around handing out cakes and chocolates! I am eating all of the calories I burned right back. Ironic right!?

I realize my problem is trivial. But omiyage, combined with all of the other delicious food Japan has to offer, is really creating a hurdle for my health. (I am half-joking, half-serious, so take this light-heartedly.)

Have you encountered the problem of an over-abundance of omiyages?