What I cooked and ate on exchange

Hellooo! So i went to Barcelona for exchange earlier this year (jan to april 2025) and here is what i typically ate if i wasnt out with friends. Also, I LOVE LIVING Independently AND TAKING CARE OF MY MEALS COS I GOT TO CUSTOMISE MY MACROS AND 100% responsible of what goes into my body. At home in SG, my fam decides where to eat (aka hawker or food court etc) or cook at home so not much say there….

Anyways, here is what i brought to Spain with me:

1. ✨Rice cooker✨ lmao ( my mom made me bring a mini one she bought when we went to the UK for a month so she ask me to use in spain… tbh it helped me cos when i was so sick i jus boiled instant porridge in my room lol)

2. ✨Seasoning✨

I would say I have a more asian tastebud and prefer eating my noodle soups to western style foods. So i brought seasoning like knorr tom yum cubes, soy sauce (super useful), sesame oil (vvvv useful), hainanese chili (only used once lol), fish sauce (v useful too). For western, i brought garlic powder and smoked paprika powder from mccormick brand

3. ✨Food/Spice Sachet✨

I bought a few sachet of bak kut teh spices thinking i would make it but i didnt lol… but i did use my hainanese chicken rice paste once, japanese curry sauce (yum n easy meal)…

4. ✨ Instant noods✨

10/10 cos i always hungry at night so i jus make noodles at night to satisfy asian cravings

WHAT I COOKEDDDD

RICE DISHES:

✨FRIED RICE✨: As u can see in the pics, i made alot of fried rice and tom yum soup which are dishes i cook back home when I need a quick meal and i always add chicken breast marinated in soy suace n sesame oil which comes out v sedap…

✨Japanese curry rice✨: lasts me a few meals

✨Chicken Rice✨: tbh a fail cos my chicken i stuffed it in the rice pot to cook altogether but nvr cook properly v L

Noodles:

(not pictured)✨Fried Knife cut noodles✨: my own recipe of dao xiao mian fried in ginger garlic sesame oil and chili, topped with diced mushroom, carrots cos leftover, ground beef n pork marinated in sesame oil

✨Chicken Macaroni Soup✨: hear me out… I love that shit cos i love chicken soup and is my comfort food especially living alone and in the coldddd,, n unlimited chicken protein, v lean foods

✨Pasta✨: the only regular western i eat… i demolished like 1kg of pasta in 1 month lol… I cooked chicken breast marinated in olive oil, paprika and garlic powder and stir fried with garlic n olive oil… VV QUICK MEAL N MACROS 100/100. I also cooked traditional carbonara becos GUANCIALE WAS SO MUCH EASIER TO GET IN EUROPE… i bought cheese n egg to make the trad style and its so good n gelat.

Other pastas for honorary mention: Bolognese (cooked twice)

2025/8/24 Edited to

One of the biggest challenges I faced living alone during my exchange was figuring out how to maintain a diet that felt both comforting and nutritious while adapting to a different food culture. Having grown up with Asian flavors, I found it essential to pack seasonings and sauces like soy sauce, sesame oil, Knorr tom yum cubes, and fish sauce. These additions brought my meals closer to home and made cooking truly enjoyable rather than a chore. Additionally, bringing a mini rice cooker proved to be a game changer. It allowed me to quickly cook rice or even instant porridge on days I was feeling under the weather. Instant noodles also became a late-night lifesaver when I craved something warm and filling. For more substantial meals, I leaned on staples like fried rice and Japanese curry rice—both easy to prepare in bulk and reheat. I also loved experimenting with Western dishes such as traditional carbonara, making use of readily available European ingredients like guanciale, which made it easier to recreate authentic recipes. Over time, I adapted my cooking to include more balanced proteins like chicken breast marinated in olive oil, paprika, and garlic powder, which helped me keep track of my macros while enjoying flavorful meals. If you're planning an exchange or long-term stay abroad, I'd highly recommend bringing certain staple seasonings and a compact cooking appliance. Not only does it save money, but it also gives you control over your diet and a feel of home when cuisines around you might be unfamiliar. Cooking for yourself can be a comforting way to manage homesickness and maintain a healthy lifestyle while exploring new places.