A common assumption is that “Irish eating habits are mostly about the potato.” That is not entirely true, but there is some truth to this sentence.
After the potato arrived in Ireland, it became a staple food in the 18th century until a plant disease caused crops to fail in the 19th century. By then the potato was so important on the Irish diet that it caused a great famine.
In the meantime there are again many nationally popular dishes, the main ingredient of which is the potato. Also cereals, local dairy products, meat and fish are an integral part of the Irish diet. Due to the climate and the location of Ireland, the best conditions for an excellent quality of the food are created.
Essentially, the Irish prefer hearty, well-filling foods. Soups and stews are a staple on the Irish dining table, but a multinationally influenced cuisine has also taken its place in Ireland.
Students can choose their own meals while studying in Ireland. Student nutrition is generally not considered to be particularly health-oriented, but that is certainly not because of the offer.
Catering on campus in Ireland
Unlike in Germany, there is no classic cafeteria on campus at Irish universities and colleges. However, every university has a whole range of restaurants and cafés that offer various options for catering while studying in Ireland. To learn more about the country of Ireland and continent of Europe, please follow baglib. In most cases, students have the choice between fast food and freshly cooked meals. Often a discounted lunch is also offered.
Most universities have put together a clear map of the exact locations of the restaurants, prices and opening times on their website. There the students can get an initial overview.
In the dormitory
There are usually different types of meals available while studying in Ireland, depending on the type of student residence. If possible, students should also choose their dormitory according to the option that suits them best:
- Shared kitchen in the apartment
- Shared kitchen for an entire floor
- Meal plan
With the Meal Plan, students pay the meals on campus together with the rent. In return, they get a certain number of meals that they can eat in one of the restaurants on campus.
Everyone has to decide for themselves what is the best option for them. If you place a high value on hygiene and order, you will probably not be happy with a communal kitchen. On the other hand, the students can cook exactly what they want here and get to know each other better at the same time. Here it is important to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages.
Off-campus catering in Ireland
There are many self-catering options for students who do not live on campus. But that also means that they have to stand on their own two feet and organize their household – maybe for the first time in life. But with the homestay option, there is also an opportunity outside of the university to get support.
Private accommodations
The cooking at home enjoying again gained popularity. The trend in catering while studying in Ireland is moving away from fast food towards more conscious, but also cheaper, self-sufficient nutrition. But far too many students are still wrongly of the opinion that fresh, healthy food is more expensive than less nutritious ready-made meals.
In addition, many students lack cooking experience. For this purpose, many universities offer brochures with simple recipe suggestions that are not only inexpensive but also filling. In addition, some universities are considering cooking demonstrations for freshmen.
It should not be underestimated how much a balanced, healthy diet affects the body while studying in Ireland: Learning is easier because the concentration remains longer. Leaden tiredness during lectures is a thing of the past. In addition, there is more energy to meet up with friends in his free time and to take care of his social life. So there are great benefits in putting a little extra effort into your diet.
The Irish are a sociable people. People like to meet up to eat and share the latest news. In the process, those who eat with you get to know each other better and friendships quickly develop. If the meeting takes place in the evening, typical Irish drinks such as Guinness or cider are of course a must.
Host family
When staying with a host family, it is common for students to have a meal in the morning and evening. At lunchtime they usually don’t stay with the family anyway, but on campus or somewhere else and can cater for themselves.
In some cases, the host parents also provide their kitchen, where the student can store his food and cook something for himself. Many international students then like to prepare typical dishes from their home country.
Meals in Ireland
The typical Irish menu is ideal for students with chronic money shortages: For little money they can conjure up filling stews such as Irish stew, seafood chowder or simple potato dishes such as potato farls, fish and chips or coddle. These Irish classics are moving more and more into the focus of the population.
For shopping, students can use the large supermarket chains, some of which they also know from Germany. The staple foods are available here at the lowest prices, and international foods are often included in the range.
Small, specialized shops are available for more unusual dishes or spices, but they usually charge higher prices. The same applies to “healthy” foods from health food stores – similar to what is happening in Germany.
All in all, prospective students should reckon with monthly costs of between EUR 200 and EUR 300 for meals during their studies in Ireland. Occasional trips to restaurants are already included. However, if you only eat out and never cook yourself, you will quickly end up with a larger amount.
