What I Eat In A Day

I’m really excited to write this blog post, because I get to talk about one of my favorite hobbies of all time: eating. It’s one of the few things I can say with confidence that I excel at! #bigbackactivities

But let’s be real, everyone has to eat, and knowing how to nourish your body is crucial. Studying abroad comes with additional challenges, like reading nutrition labels and finding allergen-friendly foods. Although food offerings will be different from what you are used to, it’s important not to sacrifice your health during your study abroad.

Breakfast

For me, a typical breakfast is something small that will give me enough energy to stay focused during class and keep me satiated until lunch time. I make omelettes, toast with peanut butter and jelly, and sometimes I’ll eat a banana or an apple. I like to drink tea or coffee in the morning as well.

I’ve been saved a couple times by the bakery section at Aldi when I was in a rush. A fresh croissant or pretzel is less than 1€ and, though not that filling, will tide me over for at least a few hours.

Lunch

Depending on the amount of time I have between classes, I prefer to go back to my apartment for lunch. But when I only have an hour-long break it doesn’t make sense to spend 40 minutes commuting back and forth to the city center, so I occasionally buy lunch. My favorite quick and inexpensive downtown meal has to be Döner. 

Döner kebab is a vertical spit-roasted meat that can be transformed into sandwiches and wraps, or loaded onto fries, salads, and pizzas. The meat is juicy, flavorful, and if you order yours “scharf”, it might be some of the spiciest food you will find in Germany (which is still relatively mild by American standards).

Döner was popularized in the early 1970s by Turkish guest workers in Germany. The exact origins are disputed, but it was likely invented in Berlin, which is known as the “Döner Capital”. Döner isn’t just popular in Berlin, though. It is a beloved staple of German fast food across the country, with at least 15 locations in Freiburg alone. And the best part for me? The cheapest spots are only 5€. Don’t worry: if you are vegetarian, every döner shop also has non-meat options, namely falafel and veggie wraps.

Another option unique to Freiburg is the Freiburger Lange Rote (a super long bratwurst), which you can find outside the Münster. There are around five competing stands that sell bratwursts fresh off the grill for 3.50€. Although some people swear by one specific stand, in my opinion they all taste the same. By that I mean they are all delicious!

Snack

If I had to name my biggest weakness in life, it would probably be ice cream. And they do NOT play about their ice cream in Freiburg. In the city center, there’s an ice cream shop about every two blocks and all the flavors are absolutely divine. Some of my favorites have been Raspberry, Hazelnut, Dubai Chocolate, Straciatella, Cherry Cocco, Kaffee Crunch, and Bienenstich (and that’s only a fraction of what I’ve tried so far). 

The only negative aspect is that most places only accept cash, so be sure to have some Bargeld on you at all times. You never know when you’ll get a sudden craving for a sweet treat.

Dinner

Clearly, I spend a lot of money on ice cream. So it’s important to pay attention to how much I'm spending on food and sticking with my weekly budget. Cooking your own food is one of the best ways to save money abroad and afford the bigger expenses, like train and flight tickets.

I try to prepare meals for the week every Sunday so that I have quick dinners on weekdays. It reduces the stress of having to go home and figure out what to eat after I’m already tired. I have found grocery store prices in Freiburg relatively cheap compared to what I am used to in the U.S., and I typically spend around 30€ per week on groceries. 

Some of my favorite meals have been chicken gnocchi soup, eggplant parmigiana, Greek pasta salad, and coconut chickpea curry.

Saving Tips

Freiburg has an amazing foodsharing program called FairTeiler. There are donation bikes/shelves throughout the city where volunteers drop off food from participating bakeries and restaurants every day. The goal is to reduce food waste while also helping with food insecurity: often you’ll find items like day-old bread, and ugly produce that can't be sold anymore but is still perfectly edible. I use the Fairteiler outside my apartment often.

I would also recommend checking if your city has restaurants that use the Too Good To Go app. Similar to FairTeiler, it’s a way for restaurants to reduce food waste by selling food that would have been thrown out in the evening for a discounted price. As a student, this is a fun way to try different foods that I would not have bought at full price.