What I eat in a week as an international student
Hello, I’m MM, an international student from Thailand, currently studying MSc Robotics.
Before coming here, I could barely cook anything, I didn’t even know how to make a simple omelette! Thankfully, social media became my teacher, and little by little, I started learning how to cook for myself.
As an international student, I know how overwhelming it can feel living away from home. On top of that you have to learn new skills, one of them being cooking which can be a bit intimidating. But trust me, you don’t have to worry.
In this blog, I’ll take you through what I normally eat in a week, how I shop, and how I keep myself fuelled while studying.
After all… eating is my energy source for surviving university life!
My weekly shopping list
Before shopping, I make a small list of what I want to cook (and some things that I’m craving) for the week ahead. My list often looks like this:
- Salmon
- Pork
- Sauces
- Milk
- General snacks
- Ice cream (always!)
My weekly shopping routine
I usually do my grocery shopping once a week, but sometimes I stop by the shops just to walk around or pick up snacks. Living in Bournbrook is amazing because there are so many supermarkets nearby, including M&S, Tesco, Aldi and Asian supermarkets.
What I eat in a week
Homemade meal of the week: Thai spicy salmon salad with rice
This week I decided to cook Thai food — my favourite! I made Thai-style spicy salmon salad (Yum Salmon) and paired it with rice. I made one big portion and ate it for all three meals of the day.
Description: Fresh salmon mixed with spicy Thai dressing, served with warm rice.
Difficulty to cook: 3/10
Taste: 9/10
Meal out of the week: Haidilao Hotpot celebration
As much as cooking at home is important and I do really enjoy it, I also like to treat myself now and again to a meal out. It’s a great chance to explore local restaurants in Birmingham and socialise with my friends outside of university. I submitted a project this week, so my friends and I went out to celebrate at Haidilao. It felt like a well-deserved reward after a long and stressful week!
Taste: 10/10
Vibes: 100/10
Lunch on campus: BBQ pork wrap from Cantina
Some days, I eat on campus, especially when I’m particularly busy during the week with lectures and assignments. This week I tried the BBQ pork wrap, from Cantina and it was delicious as well as very filling. I also grabbed a fizzy drink to go with it.
The best part? You can collect Food Fellows points through the Food Fellows app every time you buy food, which feels like a little reward system for students.
Ease: 10/10
Taste: 8.5/10
Value: 9/10
Sweet treat: Strawberry croissant from Spar
In the afternoon, when I need something sweet to get me through the day, I often stop by SPAR at the university. This week I bought a strawberry croissant — sweet, flaky, and perfect with my coffee.
Taste: 8/10
Study motivation boost: 12/10
Coffee break: Latte from Curbside Coffee Co.
Of course, my real ‘fuel’ during the week is coffee. Near the train station, there’s a lovely café called Curbside Coffee Co. I ordered a latte this week — smooth, warm, and exactly what I needed to recharge.
Ease: 10/10
Taste: 9/10
Importance to my survival: 100/10
My full weekly eating summary
- Homemade Thai spicy salmon salad
- Haidilao hotpot celebration
- BBQ pork wrap from the university canteen
- Strawberry croissant from Spar
- Latte from Curbside Coffee Co.
- Plus, snacks, ice cream, and groceries from Tesco, Aldi and Asian stores
Top tips for students who are new to cooking
- Start simple — eggs, pasta, or frozen meals are great beginners.
- Cook in batches for busy study days.
- Buy ingredients you can use for more than one meal.
- Keep some Asian sauces (or your home country’s sauces) to make any meal taste like home.
- Don’t stress — you have to start somewhere, even if that means burning a few pieces of toast before you get the hang of it, you will be fine!