Many Indian students studying at Irish universities choose independent, self-catered accommodation due to the easy availability of quality rental properties in Ireland. In rented accommodation, students experience an independent lifestyle and often prepare meals, buying food supplies and groceries.
Food expenses in Ireland depend on where you live and buy from. Students can easily spend between €70-100 per week on food expenses, including groceries and expenses for eating out at reasonably priced restaurants. An increasing number of Indian stores have opened in Ireland, making it easier for Indian students to buy Indian grocery items and food supplies for cooking. Also, you can find great Indian restaurants in Ireland.
Below are some healthy, affordable, tasty and quick-fix food options for students living independently in Ireland. If you want to know more about studying in Ireland, book a free consultation with SI-Ireland today.
Student Food Options in Ireland
Exam Day Breakfast Options
As a student, the exam days are among the most crucial days because you may not have enough time and focus on preparing healthy eating options. Still, having a healthy diet to take the exams with concentration remains important. For those exam days, high protein and low GI food items such as milk, yoghurt and eggs combined with slow-release carbohydrates such as whole grain bread or porridge are considered healthier breakfast options. Some healthy breakfast options that you can consider during those days and even on non-exam days are:
- Crunchy Banana Yogurt can be prepared in less than 30 minutes and is a perfect low-calorie breakfast to help you stay energetic until lunchtime.
- Boiled Egg and Rye Bread is another classic high-protein breakfast for an exam day.
- A high-protein Fruit Smoothie mixed with almonds and oats is another healthy, fibre-filled breakfast option to give your day an energetic head start.
Healthy Student-Packed Lunches
While studying abroad, it is easier to end up having pizzas and hamburgers that are readily available in most cafes and restaurants, some of which are also available in attractive combinations with fries and fizzy drinks. But, when you get into the habit of having that kind of lunch, the chances of gaining weight and losing focus from your studies can increase. It is always a better idea to opt for healthy lunches that you can make and take with you to the campus. This way, you not only choose the better option for your health, but also save some bucks. Some of the packed lunch options that you can prepare are:
- Sweetcorn Pasta Salad is an ideal student lunch option because it is quick to prepare and easy to carry. Students can add their choice of vegetables or tuna to make it a high-protein meal.
- Chickpea meals, such as smoky baked chickpeas or chickpea, spinach, and egg curry, are healthy and nutritious post-work meal options that students can easily prepare. These low-calorie meals are rich in protein and fibre and have low GI.
- For a vegetarian option, you can prepare a vegetable pulao by cooking basmati rice with veggies like peas, carrots, and beans. For an Indian flavour, add spices according to your preference and pack this dish with a side of plain yoghurt.
Student Dinner Ideas
After a full day of work at the university with studies and extracurricular activities, you might feel even more lazy or lethargic to preparing dinner. Still, for Indian students, the significance of their dinner is that it takes them back to their roots and times with family. If you consider cooking a relaxing exercise, preparing dinner can be a way to unwind after a busy day. Some healthy dinner options that you can easily make with groceries are:
- A vegetable curry cooked with seasonal vegetables simmered in a tomato-based gravy can be a great option for a healthy dinner that you can share with your family as well. This dish can be served with plain rice or wheat roti, as per your preference.
- You can also go for veggie quesadillas by filling flour tortillas with cheese, beans, sautéed vegetables, and salsa. You can cook these in a skillet until golden and crispy on both sides and serve with guacamole, sour cream, and salsa for dipping.
- One of the staple Indian dishes is the dal tadka, which can be cooked by preparing lentils with onions, tomatoes, and garlic until soft and creamy. Additionally, you can temper your dal with mustard seeds, cumin seeds, and dried red chillies for the tadka (tempering) to add a burst of flavour. Enjoy with rice or roti for a comforting dinner.
Popular Indian Restaurants in Ireland
There will still be days when you either don’t want to cook or want to have a meal outside to try the Indian flavours in Ireland. During those days, you can also enjoy Indian food at popular Indian restaurants that serve Indian delicacies in and around Dublin. Some of the popular Indian restaurants are:
- Veda at Dublin
- Pink Salt Indian Restaurant at Bray
- Daata Tandoori at Bray
- Chakra by Jaipur at Greystones
- Mt. Everest of Kathmandu at Bray
- Rasam Restaurant at Dun Laoghaire
- Masala Killiney at Dublin
- Shanai at Dublin
Study in Ireland
At SI-Ireland, we assist students in the Ireland university application process and provide all necessary guidance for Ireland Study Visa Application. Book a free consultation to start applying at Irish universities.
