Expat Diet Transition Guide | Relocating to a New Country

International Relocation | Moving Tips

Moving globally might cause a significant shift in one’s diet. The unintended consequences of changes in foods, cooking styles, and ‘eating out’ culture can be the main reasons. What you put in your body is important. And relocating to a new country might provide an excellent opportunity to make healthy choices. In this blog, we tell you all about the expat diet transition guide. Read on to know what to expect, and how to make the most out of the experience.

Expat Diet Transition Guide:

Drink Lots of Water

This is the best health rule no matter where you’re moving to. Drink enough water every day to enhance your general health, boost your energy, and reap the mental and physical benefits of staying hydrated.

It’s crucial to understand the safety of the water in your new home: can you drink straight from the faucet, do you need to fill up at a nearby freshwater font, or do you need to purchase bottled water? Safe, clean water is essential for good health, so make sure you only drink and wash your food in it.

Change in Your Lifestyle

When you move to a new nation, the biggest adjustment to your diet can be unfamiliarity with the local ingredients. A change of palate can be intimidating.  Try embracing it with an open mind and a sense of adventure will help you adjust. It’s crucial to be conscious that your diet will change over time. With less or more access to processed and fast food, new veggies and fruit, and a shift in cooking styles, etc. You must study the health benefits and drawbacks of your new country’s diet. This will help to maintain a balanced and healthy diet.

Try to learn from the good bits and restrict the consumption of fast food. It is better to consume a lot of local, seasonal fruit and vegetables. As well as fresh, unprocessed produce, wherever you go. In addition to a change in the quantity and diversity of products and meals, your eating habits may be very different from what you are used to. Changes in eating routine and pattern can be difficult to overcome.  Whether it means eating very long lunches or eating dinner very late in the evening. If this is the case, try to adapt as quickly as possible to the local routine.  Think of it as overcoming jetlag! The sooner you establish a routine, the more quickly it will become a part of your new life.

Experiment & Try New Things

Get out there and experiment with new things. This is one technique to deal with food culture shock. There may be invitations from new colleagues and acquaintances who wish to introduce you to local cuisine or invite you to enjoy a dinner at their home. Remember that refusing or criticizing a component or meal in these situations, as well as when dining out or shopping, might come out as impolite or insulting.

Be willing to try new things, even if it’s just to be able to say with certainty that it’s not for you. And learning how to cook and prepare a new dish, or asking what’s available at your local shop or market, maybe a fun way to meet new people.

Maintain a Good Health

Many expats are enticed to relocate by a lucrative work offer, which allows them to spend more money on entertainment and exploring their new location. However, this can lead to more eating out, especially if you’re unfamiliar with your neighborhood, where to purchase, or how to prepare local ingredients. The problem with this is that it can lead to us making poor decisions, eating more than we normally would, and drinking more alcohol. Alternatively, expats may rely on familiar fast-food businesses due to their unfamiliarity with the local cuisine.

Food Shopping  

Unusual purchasing habits might lead to an unhealthy diet depending on grab-and-go food, with meals out replacing home cooking. You must learn how to shop like a local to eat healthily in your new home. From where to get your produce at local markets to how to use local ingredients to make old favourites or discover new ones, there’s a lot to learn.

There may also be designated shopping days and times, as well as days when stores are closed entirely. Solicit assistance from your new area’s coworkers, friends, and neighbours. Spend time investigating local supermarkets, marketplaces, and stores, and try to mimic the residents’ habits and behaviours. If you have an upcoming move, read our expat diet transition guide to know what to expect.


Moving to Singapore