Managing meals in Thailand

Cheryl Moderator

Member since 15 October 2018

CherylModerator21 November 2025 09:28:56

14940

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 Thailand? 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 Thailand?

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 Thailand, 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

California4me Contributor

Member since 10 March 2016

California4meContributorYesterday 04:56:54

137

When I first arrived in Thailand in 2013 from the US I ate a lot of different kinds of food mostly Thai but. In different parts of Thailand. I ate big portions and I ended up gaining weight so I started eating smaller portions and stayed away from deep fried foods and white rice and I lost the weight. But during Covid the food changed in Thailand the fresh food, made when you ordered it was all deep friend with sauces the were made up ah of time. All the traditional cooks move away went back to there families. Even now days it’s hard to find tasty healthy food in most places in Thailand. And using palm oil to cook is the number 1 choice of most restaurants even though it causes Cancer and pollutes the environment. But Thailand is still the best place to live because there are so many choices of food and you can live very healthy lifestyle if that’s what you want.