Managing meals in Indonesia

Cheryl Moderator

Member since 15 October 2018

CherylModerator21 November 2025 09:28:56

15299

Hello everyone,

Managing meals day-to-day can sometimes be a real mental challenge, even more so when you land in a new environment, with different schedules, habits or ingredients. How do you manage your meal routine as an expat in Indonesia? We invite you to share your experience in order to help fellow expats and soon-to-be expats.

What are the main changes you have made to your meal routine since settling in Indonesia?

Did you face any challenges to adapt to new meal habits?

Do you cook fresh meals everyday or do you meal prep? Why?

If you live with your family, do you prepare meals for everyone for school or work? Are canteens available?

Do you usually eat out for lunch or dinner or do you prefer eating at home?

What surprised you the most about meals in Indonesia, either in terms of habits, timing, portions, meal composition, food culture, etc.?

Share your insights, experience and meal routines!

Thank you for your contribution.

Cheryl
Expat.com Team

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wyngrove60 Serial expat

Member since 08 May 2021

wyngrove60Serial expat21 November 2025 11:05:59

409

I'd love to post photos of Indonesian food but expat.blog doesn't accept them. I've tried every now and again since 2010 and always they are rejected. since you have a new interest of local meals will you now start accepting pictures of Indonesian food?

Personally I both eat out and eat at home. My kids both eat meals at school and they also take packed lunches.

I rarely ate pork, sausage or fat or gristle back in the UK, so Indonesia is great because there is so much food without those things.

Nothing hard about eating Indonesian food as it's delicious.

Fred Indonesia Expert

Member since 02 August 2009

A smile is the universal welcome.
Max Eastman

FredIndonesia Expert21 November 2025 12:00:39

30186

I'd love to post photos of Indonesian food but expat.blog doesn't accept them. - @wyngrove60

Upload to Flickr or Photo bucket, then post the image file link

Lotus Eater ViP

Member since 26 June 2012

Lotus EaterViP22 November 2025 00:56:35

1926

@wyngrove60

I've tried every now and again since 2010 and always they are rejected

Tell me about it. The functionality of this website is questionable to put it lightly.

I personally cannot edit posts immediately after posting. I’m not interested in editing the prose but occasionally a spelling error that I pick up after posting. This has been the case for months.

Moreover I regularly get a pop up saying ‘please confirm your email address to enable full access’ or words to that effect. I press ‘confirm’ and a message states this service is unavailable 🧐

I did notify admin on this forum a few days ago but no response 🙄